Tiger Woods' former caddie says Masters win 're-energizes the game'
Tiger Woods has finally won a major again, and saying that some golf fans are excited about it would be a massive understatement.
For the first time since 2005, Woods won The Masters last week and created some monster ratings in the process. Per a CBS Sports news release, the network’s broadcast of the tournament delivered the highest-rated morning golf broadcast in 34 years and peaked with a 12.1/28 rating/share.
The numbers could have been even higher had The Masters’ final round not been started early due to weather concerns. Clearly, there is a market very interested in watching a competitive Woods, and the golfer’s former caddie thinks that could help power the sport of golf itself.
Steve Williams excited for Tiger Woods’ resurgence
Between 1999 and 2011, Steve Williams carried Woods’ bag as the legend dominated golf. Woods racked up 13 of his 15 majors wins with Williams, though the pairing eventually ended on less than friendly terms.
The two have since appeared to reconcile, and now Williams seems very happy to see Woods on top again.
"You look at it from a broader perspective,'' Williams said. "Here in New Zealand, golf is somewhat struggling. The number of rounds is down, junior numbers are slipping. Now that Tiger has come right back there again, winning a major championship, possibly putting Jack's (Nicklaus) record in play again ... it just re-energizes the game.
"It's absolutely awesome. He's the only guy who can energize the game like that. All those kids who were watching had to think it was fantastic. And so what he's done is a remarkable achievement. It's so positive.''
Whether or not the 43-year-old Woods can eventually pass Nicklaus will be a fascinating story over the next few years as long as Woods can stay competitive. With his Masters win, Woods is now three short of Nicklaus’ record 18 majors wins. Reaching that number seems quite unlikely for a golfer of Woods’ age, but he probably faced even longer odds a few years ago to win a major at all.
Funnily enough, Williams told ESPN he has stopped watching golf on television since he retired from full-time caddie work in 2017. You’d imagine that might change for Williams if Woods finds himself with 17 majors at some point, and that quite a few sports fans would join him.
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