It was mentioned during the week that the world would be a much more interesting place if the only nuclear power in the world was New Zealand.
It is true that it is a most beautiful country, full of the friendliest people on the planet, and the world would be in good hands.
But even the Kiwi’s get troubled by world affairs.
New Zealand’s highest paid sportsperson is Tiger Woods’ caddie Steve Williams, so perhaps they have as much right as anybody to be troubled by the Tiger affair.
The Junior Tiger tournament was created last November to promote junior golf in New Zealand with the winner representing New Zealand in this year’s World Junior golf Championships in San Diego.
It is a junior “golfing pop idol” of sports, according to the Sunday News, and organisers are reconsidering their association with Woods. Animated Tiger’s litter the Junior Tiger website and a re-branding would be time-consuming and costly.
It is the biggest news to hit New Zealand golf since Michael Campbell’s US Open victory in 2005.
To say Michael Campbell has struggled since that victory would be like saying Tiger Woods slept with a few women. According to the Sunday Star Times, even Campbell is perplexed by it all: “I’ve been out with Tiger socially on a few occasions and there’s no way I picked it up,” Campbell said.
Asked if he had been following the saga with interest: “Interest? Not really. But I feel for both sides. A lot of guys are surprised by what’s unfolded over the last couple of months – he just didn’t seem that way. He had this secret life that no-one knew about. People say they did [know] but I didn’t.”
Can anyone else see the opportunity for New Zealand golf right here?
One time Kiwi hero and former US Open champion in the golfing wilderness and the country’s highest paid sportsperson out of work. It is not hard to put two and two together, or in this case, one and one.
Never-mind Steve Williams saying he won’t caddie for anyone else again. For the right money, perhaps some incentives from New Zealand golf, and the two of them can pair up.
After all, it may have been Williams that led Tiger down the wrong path in the first place.
Reportedly after Woods won at Valhalla at the PGA championship in 2000, he was over the moon and very excited about the real prospect of beating Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major wins.
“I’ve just won five Stevie! Only 14 more and I’ve beaten Jack!”.
Ever the professional caddie and the responsible New Zealander, Williams replied “Tiger, just keep calm. You need to get back out there tomorrow and focus on six.”
The rest is now history.
Campbell and Stevie together would give junior golfers across New Zealand and new golfing pair to idolise. I think all golfers across the world would be interested in this pairing and Campbell needs all the help he can get.
Marty
Guest
MIchael Campbell will be back to the top, with or without Steve Williams.
Michael Green
Roar Pro
Sorry mate. I thought the gag may have made it worthwhile!
Michael Green
Roar Pro
That's true Phil. He's just taking a extended holiday while Tiger gets himself together. Just a fun thought to have him help out Cambo though! It will be all about Tiger's golf from now on. It's going to be incredibly interesting when he returns.
Mushi
Guest
Tough to believe that the best man at someone’s wedding “just carried his clubs” would have to be the worst best man in history if he never once went out with the guy. His dad also brags about how he hangs out with tiger.
Junior
Guest
that's two and a half minutes of my life that i'll never get back. thanks michael
Phil
Guest
Williams is not out of work - jesus - Tiger will be back
sheek
Guest
Sorry Michael, My sense of humour is usually very good. Often with the written or typed word, something can be lost in translation because we miss the inflection of the voice in which it's said, or the expression on the face.....
sheek
Guest
Brett, Not quite chronologically correct. When the story of the car accident first broke (before the women were mentioned), Williams said he was a confidente of Woods, & mates stuck together, or something like that. Then when the women started coming out, & public opinion against Woods started getting ugly, Williams changed tack & denied being aware of any of Woods' affairs. Williams was Woods' caddie, he was supposedly one of his best mates, & he was best man at Woods' wedding. There are also stories of the pair cracking crude jokes in female company & having farting competitions on the golf course. Typical, crass, blokey behaviour. Then there are the stories of Williams being a rude, bullying standover man for Woods. Brett, if joining all the dots together means anything, then of course Williams knew what was going on.....
Michael Green
Roar Pro
It was all a bit tongue in cheek including the joke. Maybe the gag wasn't that good?! Williams is out of work, Campbell is struggling. The kids need to focus on someone else other than Tiger and Williams hasn't been implicated at all so far as we know. That sort of thing.
Brett McKay
Guest
Sheek, not sure whether you may or may not have seen it, but Williams did make a statement from NZ in the weeks after it all fell apart claiming he knew nothing of Wood's nocturnal habits. He suggested something along the lines of just being paid to carry his clubs, and that when he wasn't caddying, he was generally back in NZ. For what it's all worth, of course...
sheek
Guest
Michael, I'm not sure of the point of your article. Tiger Woods as a loving, caring family man is totally discredited. While Steve Williams as a moral compass to his boss is also totally discredited. Presumedly, some of the people advising Woods must have daughters & wives of their own. By condoning & covering up Woods' behaviour, they implicitly implied it was okay for a guy to cheat on his wife in a serial manner. Presumedly, it's also okay if a guy does the same to your daughter that he's married to. By remaining silent on Woods behaviour, Williams implied that its okay to serial cheat on your wife. And presumedly it's also okay for your son-in-law to do same to your daughter. The same goes for Woods' sponsors who were in the know, who all put making money above everything else. We all make mistakes, but this was institutionalised deceit on a grand scale.