Tiger Woods kept a very low profile during the height of his now notorious cheating scandal, but he also kept a very close eye on everything that was being written about his indiscretions in the press, claims his former coach Hank Haney in a tell-all book.
Hank Haney explains how his protégé would furiously trawl the internet to find stories written about his infidelities, and gauge readers’ responses to them.
The professional golfing coach makes the allegations, and many others, in The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods, which was released this week.
Hank Haney wrote: “Rather than trying to ignore what was being written and said about him, Tiger was taking it in.
“While we were in Augusta driving back and forth to the course, Tiger sat in the front passenger seat while I sat in the back, and I could see as he surfed the Web on his phone that he was searching for stories about himself on gossip sites.”
In his tell-all book, Hank Haney explains how Tiger Woods would furiously trawl the internet to find stories written about his infidelities and gauge readers’ responses to them
Hank Haney went on to claim that the golfing pro also took the time to read all of the comments left by readers at the bottom of online stories.
He said: “A couple of times he suddenly said, <<Uh oh, here’s another story>>, before immersing himself in it.
“Worse, he was reading the comments from readers, many of them vicious cheap shots. I was thinking there was no way that could be helping his frame of mind.”
The Big Miss also sees Hank Haney describe the sum of Tiger Woods’s qualities, good and bad, which he calls “the package”.
Hank Haney concluded: “Those qualities, foremost among them an extraordinary ability to focus and stay calm under stress, also included selfishness, obsessiveness, stubbornness, coldness, ruthlessness, pettiness and cheapness.”
The serial adulterer’s cheating scandal began when news broke of his mistress Rachel Uchitel in November 2009.
More than 15 other women were then revealed to have had relationships with Tiger Woods while he was married to Elin Nordegren.
As a result, Tiger Woods took a long break from golf before returning with a vengeance that saw him win his first PGA tournament at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.
After Steve Williams, Tiger Woods’ former caddie, made a racist comment at an awards dinner, he was condemned by the Professional Golfers Association and Tiger Woods’ management team, but not by his new boss, Adam Scott.
Steve Williams, 47, was given an award for the year’s best celebration – a reference to his tongue-in-cheek claim that his current employer Adam Scott’s victory at the Bridgestone Invitational in August was “the best win of my career” – despite being on the bag with Tiger Woods for 13 majors.
Asked what the celebration was all about, Steve Williams said: “It was my aim to shove it right up that black a**hole.”
Though Steve Williams issued an apology, people are now criticizing Adam Scott’s lack of criticism.
Adam Scott, who now retains Steve Williams, said that he disapproves of Williams' remark, but is trying to put the whole incident in the past
Adam Scott, who now retains Steve Williams, said that he disapproves of Williams’ remark, but is trying to put the whole incident in the past.
“I don’t think anyone condones racism in sport or anything,” Adam Scott said.
“I don’t see it being an issue moving forward.
“I think from my side of things and my teams, the matter has been put to bed. I’ve got nothing more to talk about it with anyone. So I’m moving on.
“I heard Steve issue an apology. What more should I do?
“Look, anything with Tiger involved is a story,” Adam Scott continued.
“I value Steve’s contribution to my game and to have him on the bag.”
Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods’ agent at Excel Sports Management, was with the golfer when he heard the news.
He said: “It’s a regrettable comment, and there’s really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He’s just going to move on.”
Steve Williams’ comment was met with a mixture of laughter and shock at the ceremony, with some players turning to each other with eyes widened and jaws agape.
Steve Williams, Tiger Woods’ former caddie has apologized for causing outrage at annual Caddie Awards dinner in Shanghai when he made a racist remark about his former boss.
Steve Williams, a 47 year-old New Zealander, was given an award for the year’s best celebration – a reference to his tongue-in-cheek claim that his current employer Adam Scott’s victory at the Bridgestone Invitational in August was “the best win of my career” – despite being on the bag with Woods for 13 majors.
Asked what the celebration was all about, Steve Williams said: “It was my aim to shove it right up that black a**ehole.”
Steve Williams‘ comment was met with a mixture of laughter and shock at the ceremony, with some players turning to each other with eyes widened and jaws agape.
One caddie said: “Never have you been in a room and seen so many jaws drop at the same time. We knew he was an idiot but we didn’t know he was a racist idiot. I was standing next to a European Tour official who said, <<Thank God he is not on our tour>>.”
Steve Williams, Tiger Woods' former caddie has apologized for causing outrage at annual Caddie Awards dinner in Shanghai when he made a racist remark about his former boss
Approached early the next morning at breakfast, Steve Williams was stunned to learn that British tabloids had gone with the story.
“Why would they do that?” he said.
“The whole thing was meant to be fun.”
Steve Williams then posted a statement on his website saying: “I apologize for the comments I made last night at the annual Caddie Awards dinner in Shanghai.
“Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realize how my comments could be construed as racist.
“However, I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to Tiger and anyone else I have offended.”
The 100 caddies, players and guests in attendance had accepted their invitations on the condition they did not disclose what happened at the ceremony, held after the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament.
Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods’ agent at Excel Sports Management, was with the golfer when he heard the news.
Mark Steinberg said: “It’s a regrettable comment, and there’s really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He’s just going to move on.”
Steve Williams, who could now face a ban or even the sack, had been a regular caddie for Tiger Woods since 1999 and helped the American to 13 majors before being fired in July.
Steve Williams hit out at the manner of the split and a month later was in the news again after his new employer, Adam Scott, won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio.
The caddie had told reporters: “It’s the most satisfying win I’ve ever had, there’s no two ways about it. It’s the greatest week of my life caddying and I sincerely mean that.”
Steve Williams later apologized for those comments, saying his emotions got the better of him.
He has disputed Tiger Woods’ version of how their partnership ended, and said he was short-shrifted by Woods despite his loyalty to the former No. 1 player during the sex scandal that derailed his career.
Adam Scott is today preparing for his third round of the HSBC Champions. He is going for his second World Golf Championship of the year.
Tiger Woods and Adam Scott are to be in the same group next week at the Australian Open, and there’s chance they also could face off at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne the week after.
But this was not the first time Steve Williams has run into trouble for his words.
In 2008, at a dinner banquet in New Zealand, Steve Williams made a disparaging remark about Phil Mickelson.
He said it was meant in fun, although he later apologized to Phil Mickelson.
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