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Steve Williams’ real beef with Tiger, other revelations from his new book

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Tiger Woods’ caddie for 13 years, Steve Williams, has penned a tell-all book. Out of the Rough hit the shelves this morning, and I’ve made my way through it and pulled out some of the juiciest morsels for your enjoyment.

Of course, there’s much more in the book, including humorous illuminations of the Woods-Garcia conflict and the Woods-Mickelson-Williams beef, so I suggest plunking down $14.38 for the Kindle edition.

Here are some of the best items.

Williams asked for Tiger’s autograph the first time he met him. He really did hang up on Tiger the first time Tiger asked him to be his caddie, thinking it was a friend prank-calling him. “I’ve just parted ways with my caddy and I want to know if you’d like to come caddy for me,” Tiger asked him.

“Can you wait a minute? I’ve just got something I need to finish.” Woods greeted Wiliams at the door of his Orlando home, but made him wait while he intently finished up a video game. Woods was so focused it was as if he were in a “trance.”

Williams acknowledges Woods’ chief swing flaw throughout his career was getting “stuck,” which often resulted in the big block to the right.

Screen Shot 2015-11-02 at 11.41.39 AM

Williams thoroughly dislikes Sergio Garcia, primarily because of his conduct at the 2012 Players Championship when Sergio was “loud, abusive, bad-tempered” and “threw his clubs.” He also dislikes Vijay Singh on account of the fact that the latter has never fessed up to his 1985 cheating incident.

Tiger avoided locker rooms and kept his gear in the trunk of his car, worried that someone would tamper with his putter.

“Tiger felt Butch was trading on his name, taking advantage of their association.” Instead of telling Harmon this, however, Woods merely iced his teacher out. Williams believes Tiger’s only hope of salvaging his career is returning to Harmon. Harmon would “make the rescue plan quicker than anyone else.”

Williams problem with Phil Mickelson: “He thinks he knows everything. He lords over people.”

Woods’ desire to quit golf and join the Navy SEALs surfaced early in the 2000s. “I’ve had enough of golf,” he told Williams. “I’d really like to try to be a Navy SEAL.” His love for the SEALs manifested as an almost “god-like adoration,” according to Williams. The obsession is the route of his muscle-building focus in the gym and, which has contributed to Woods’ many injuries, in Williams’ mind.

Williams once let Kevin Na have it over slow play saying “You’re the most inconsiderate player I’ve ever met in my life.”

Williams maintains he had no knowledge of Woods’ illicit activities. “Only a handful of his oldest buddies actually had any idea this was going on. I didn’t know because Tiger didn’t dare tell me….he knew my values and that I would have zero tolerance…that would be the end of us.”

Williams “repeatedly asked for Tiger’s management to release a statement that would clear me of any involvement.” They wouldn’t. And neither Woods nor Steinberg nor “his lackeys” kept Williams in the loop as the scandal was developing.

Woods finally contacted Williams and was “open, honest and remorseful.” Williams says he had “no sympathy” for Woods, although he appreciated the call and set up a face-to-face to further clear the air. In this meeting, Williams let Woods know he was furious about being “dragged through the wringer” and was angry about the scandal’s impact on his family. He also indicated his furor with Team Woods for their “total lack of communication” and unwillingness to absolve him publicly. Williams asked Woods to behave better on course as well in his return.

As foolish as it may have been, I allowed myself, given his modified behavior and an OK game, to believe the old Tiger could genuinely change his stripes. That hope lasted 48 hours, before Mark Steinberg brought everything tumbling down again. We were walking from the media centre to the practice range when Steinberg told Tiger that if he wanted to win the tournament he had to ‘stop being a nice guy’ and go back to being his old self. I couldn’t believe my ears. After all that Tiger had been through, and the fact that he had made a public commitment to a less snarling and aggressive Tiger, that he’d promise me he would reform his bad habits, his main advisor was telling him the opposite. This was the moment in time when Tiger had a chance to turn his image around. It was the perfect opportunity to create a new Tiger — a fan-friendly Tiger who would sign more autographs, interact more openly with fans, be less surly with his rivals, more communicative with those around him — so to hear those words from Steinberg floored me. Right then, something inside me changed. A brick in the foundation of my relationship with Tiger had been prised loose. My immediate thought was, I’m not sure I’m going to be around much longer.

When Woods returned at the 2010 Masters, “people all over the world, including his rivals, had lost their respect for him, were no longer in awe of him.”

Team Woods flip-flopped about Williams caddying for Adam Scott while Tiger was out with injury. During the course of Mark Steinberg attempting to convince Williams not to carry Scott’s bag, Williams got a text from Steinberg that was meant for Woods saying “I’ve talked to Steve. I think I’ve persuaded him not to caddy for Adam.” Things then got “a little bit ugly,” and the partnership was dissolved via text message, although Woods would later say he and Williams parted ways face-to-face at the AT&T National.

“The way this circus played out, and the way he’d failed to live up to his promise to change his character, had diminished my respect for Tiger and undermined my enthusiasm for his goals and dreams. Yet I’d stood by out of loyalty…But when I asked for a show of loyalty from him, when I asked for him to do something for me as a friend—he let me down…There was nothing there. No support, no friendship.”

When Scott and Woods were paired together at the Open Championship at Muirfield, Williams attempted to make conversation with Woods, which was met with curt replies. When Woods didn’t open up or inquire about Williams’ own family he realized, “I had been excommunicated.” And that, “people he [Woods] once held dear were now nobodies…It was the first time in 36 years as a caddy that the end of professional relationship had spelled the end of a personal relationship.” 

The final word on Steve and Tiger: Williams will never forgive Woods and his team for not “clearing his name” during the sex scandal. “The fact hat he couldn’t do that caused a lot of grief for my family and me,” Williams said. “That he couldn’t do that for someone who had been loyal to him for more than a decade…there’s something not right about that.”

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47 Comments

47 Comments

  1. Jeff*

    Nov 20, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Why do old white folks, mostly “christians,” have such a rabid dislike for Tiger? Did he force you to integrate your country club? The guy was flat out so good. His caddie is mad at him? And you’re all sure Stevie Williams is morally exactly how he reports, even thougo he has “zero tolerance” but “was willing to stay on out of loyalty.” Means his sense of morality is for sale. Now, nearly 7 years after the white escalade the caddie has to get his side out, for the millionth time, after racist jokes, after acting as though winning the Bridgestone was the best win of his career(among 13 majors). The guys a narcissist. He loves the spotlight, don’t believe different.

  2. Todd

    Nov 16, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    PGA Tour caddies are like mafia dons………………..better outside the public spotlight.

  3. Gorden

    Nov 13, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    News flash for Steve Williams and all you golf fans, if Tiger Woods did not do it his way he never would have been the player he is (or was for some of you). Mr. Williams and golf fans alike can dream of Mr. nice guy but that is not the Woods that has become one of the best players ever….Tiger did his talking with his clubs not his hand shake and autograph.

  4. Doug

    Nov 9, 2015 at 10:44 am

    Hard to feel bad for a guy that made millions of dollars carrying a golf bag. Be grateful and shut up.

  5. allan

    Nov 7, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Both have been misguided….no?

  6. RJ

    Nov 7, 2015 at 12:27 am

    I am gonna go back in time…. 2003-2008, I lived in South Florida and spent a lot of time in Orlando playing at many of the best tracks in the area. Playing at Tiger’s old ball park one afternoon, with a then prominent Champions Tour/ PGA Tour winner, a retired MLB pitcher and a former Arizona Cardinal football player. Sitting in the Isleworth men’s grille post round. The tour player is telling us one of many stories about 2 phones that were possessed by the book’s author. In the hood ” ya man holds for ya”… In english Stevie held the “Tiger hot line” and Elin called on the other phone. The “smash pad in Altamonte far away from Isleworth she knew nothing about it. So Stevie needs to stop the the “Babe in the Woods routine”, said in my best voice from the movie “Good Fellas”
    He is not a victim here… Unless your wanting to get on the Best Seller list!

  7. Todd Spenla

    Nov 6, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    Steve Williams was Tigers Caddy and employee. Stevie who all we got to know Stevie Williams through Tiger Woods a caddy is supposed to pick up the club wash the ball carry the bag and be the golfers personal assistant Williams was paid and should be glad that he got to be a celebrity caddy because of Tiger Woods it is despicable that he is writing a tell all book exposing confidentiality and personal details about Tiger i’m sure Adam Scott feels really great that he could be the next book year was the best golfer that lived 14 majors Steve Williams should be ashamed of himself and blackballed from the PGA tour.

    Stevie Williams what part of caddy don’t you understand caddies at country club clubs hang out in the Caddy shack not the clubhouse

  8. Andy

    Nov 4, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    I completely …. Wholeheartedly agree with this. I think the person who helped Tiger be an a$$ around people and his competitors is Mark. He probably is the slimiest of all.
    Tiger did not have anyone “to prove” to, once his dad passed away and I strongly believe that Mark S paved the way to Tigers decline by giving him wrong advice. He made money for Tiger, yes, but he is surely one of the biggest cause of his decline (or dare I say demise).

  9. CairnsRock

    Nov 4, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    I think he doth protest too much. I think Stevie knew that something was going on. You don’t have a daily relationship and travel with someone without being able to read between the lines.
    Tell alls are scummy. Nobody comes out looking good. He is willing to trash the guy who paid him $10m. Stevie sucks.

    • Matty Ice

      Nov 6, 2015 at 8:43 am

      I lose all respect for people who write tell-all books. Just because you can say it, doesn’t mean you should. Golf longevity is a double edged sword. Arnie and Jack should live forever. Tiger, Williams, Haney, Garcia, etc…it’s time for them all to just go away.

  10. Verne

    Nov 4, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Hard to accept statements as fact that appear in the Williams book and I am sure they are embellished for marketing purposes. I am not sure why he chose to enter the journalistic field other than another opportunity to pad his bank account, an account pretty much established as a result of his years with Tiger. A previous comment regarding two Alpha 1 personalities in conflict is on the money, (no pun intended). Tough to avoid difficulty when two of this type are on the same ‘team’, especially when one is the subordinate.

  11. joro

    Nov 4, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    You Tiger lovers are pitiful, the guy is nothing but an arrogant POS. Steve was good for him and did what Tiger wanted him too. He has the same right to comment of his feelings as you do. He is a good guy, and I know him and can say that in all honesty. As well as what Tiger is. But what you don’t know is what he didn’t put in the book, and it is plenty.

  12. Pingback: Tiger Woods’ Former Caddie Steve Williams Rips Several Golfers, From Mickelson to Garcia |

  13. Steve

    Nov 3, 2015 at 9:15 am

    I dont know why Williams thought he was more then a employee of Tiger Woods Inc.. A personal assistant for a golfer more or less. Why would Tiger owe him anything more then a paycheck and it was a nice paycheck. Show up, shut up and keep up, what happened to that? He says that only a close circle of friends knew of the affairs, Notah Begay, and he didn’t know. So he wasnt a close friend. Tiger told him to kick rocks he felt like a broken hearted teenage girl. He and Haney felt betrayed but they were nothing more then employees that got fire. He and Haney still trying to cash in on working for Tiger.

    • vince guest

      Nov 3, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      This is funny as this is exactly what a selfish,egotistical Tour Pro would say.

      • Steve

        Nov 3, 2015 at 4:28 pm

        Maybe you dont realize that pro teams are built to win. Not to make friends. Tell Williams to give back the millions he made working for Tiger. I am sure Tiger will send a Christmas card then. There are alot of great teams and businesses made of people that arent friends outside of it.

        • Brandon

          Nov 4, 2015 at 10:45 am

          Name 10 championships won without off field camaraderie but are BUILT TO WIN( I can think of a few) and I will name 20 that did win without being the best assembled team and would’ve failed without it.

          • Steve

            Nov 4, 2015 at 4:31 pm

            Kobe lakers(5), reggie jackson A’s(3), 70’s yankees (2) three teams 10 championships easy pizy

  14. 8thehardway

    Nov 3, 2015 at 6:08 am

    Remember when Jaimee Grubbs released that racy text message from Tiger saying “I’m gonna wear you out” … Nike didn’t make it the theme of their new line of golf apparel, so at least they showed some restraint.

  15. Square

    Nov 3, 2015 at 4:45 am

    I believe several of Williams’ gripes were legit even though I’m a fan of Tiger Woods. I really was a fan of both guys. Now I question the timing of this book and now Williams looks like and opportunist to me. When people write books like this, to me, it just highlights the an ugly human character flaw…..greed.

  16. The Infidel

    Nov 3, 2015 at 4:31 am

    Tiger Fan Boys are going to have a real hard time diluting the most recent accounts of TW the man.

    I was going to suggest that worshippers will try and pull SW down, but I see that’s already started. Shame.

  17. Steve

    Nov 2, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    He treated me like a slave!

  18. mo

    Nov 2, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    I like what he supposed said to Kevin Na. 🙂
    Maybe Kevin got the message? He seems to be better now.

  19. golfiend

    Nov 2, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    Woods is not the first person who is actually fake (Nike marketing) and somewhat of a jerk (there’s plenty of anecdotes from many people about that) but is also one of the best in his game. In this sense, he was no different than someone like Ted Williams. That said, he was also a transcendent figure as a black golfer in a mostly exclusionary sport and he did alot to change the sport by making it more athletic and more mainstream. But on a private personal level, he is someone that most people would dislike.

    • John K

      Nov 4, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      Amen…nothing more needs to be said! Well put!

  20. Dean Tipping

    Nov 2, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    “The Cat” is finished and has been for over a year. Any notion that he’ll come back and be as good as he was is purely delusional. You can’t change your swing that number of times, have the injuries he’s had and is still having and you can’t miss fairways that wide hitting “chief” and expect to win the big tournaments. He might get away with it at Augusta because let’s face it, you can hit it anywhere there and score if you putt the dots off it. At The Open this year he’s hitting irons off the tee while everyone else is bombing “chief” and flicking in wedges going out the front nine. The course was wet so the run wasn’t there like it was when he used that strategy to great effect all those years ago. Did he completely miss-read the conditions or has he zero confidence in hitting “the big stick”? That should have been the first question asked by the media. Thankfully we have a new “Big 3” that will perhaps do as much for golf if not more than “The Cat” did. Time to leave the poor bugger alone so he can get on with his life.

  21. Cons

    Nov 2, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    “Only a handful of his oldest buddies actually had any idea this was going on. I didn’t know because Tiger didn’t dare tell me….he knew my values and that I would have zero tolerance…that would be the end of us”

    … Finds out in 2009, caddies for him for 2 more years anyway…

    Zero tolerance, huh?

  22. DJ

    Nov 2, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    What’s the big deal about clearing his name? Why is he so obsessed with it? It wasn’t him having the affairs. What a weird guy

    • alexdub

      Nov 2, 2015 at 6:07 pm

      Because it has been a few years, we seem to forget the circus this was. For nearly a year, Williams was in the daily news cycle and associated with the deception. It’s easy for us to say, “Who cares?”, but it wasn’t us who had to handle the skepticism and distrust from family and friends. Have you even been accused of something you didn’t do?

      All Tiger had to say was, “Stevie didn’t know”. It would have ended the mistrust, and it would have taken the burden off of the Williams family. We can’t be aware of the toll, even indirectly, the situation had on Stevie and his family.

      • Jack Nash

        Nov 7, 2015 at 11:09 am

        Well said, and I suppose the anti Steves, are the same as the anti Hanks that came out when he wrote his book a couple of years ago. Some sure get their panty’s in a knot when their favorite doesn’t look as pure as they would seem to think. Besides, the last time I looked it wasn’t illegal for someone to write a book about somebody else to make a few bucks.

    • Guru

      Nov 2, 2015 at 9:11 pm

      I agree. Not once in any article, video, report, etc do I remember hearing Williams name. I don’t recall Tiger ever dragging his Williams name through the mud either. This guy gives himself too much self-importance. He needs to get over himself, cuz nobody cares.

    • Jaxson876

      Nov 3, 2015 at 11:04 pm

      Indeed. So why does he need to have Team Tiger clear his name for his family?

      Not that I’m a fan of Tiger as I am not but please Steve doesn’t your own family know you better than that?

      Lame.

      • Brandon

        Nov 4, 2015 at 10:35 am

        according to the book, New Zealand newspapers was running him through the ringer and a radio station too. He would be shopping with his family and people would approach him claiming he was just as big of a piece of dong as Woods.

        I would want myself to be cleared too.

    • allan

      Nov 7, 2015 at 1:26 pm

      well said!!!

    • Jeff*

      Nov 20, 2015 at 4:50 pm

      Narcissism

  23. Classy

    Nov 2, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    When two type A personality narcissists get together, there be sparks yo! I’m surprised the space-time continuum remained intact with these two together.

  24. Lee Payne

    Nov 2, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    has there ever been two people more deserving of each other than these two?

  25. TWGDF

    Nov 2, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    What does this have to do with equipment in any way shape or form? May be WRX needs to re-name itself the TW-Golf Daily Fail

  26. derek

    Nov 2, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Just a shame that he would write about any of it. Not professional at all. Thumbs down Stevie for profiteering like this.

  27. nolanski

    Nov 2, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    I know Tiger’s a jerk but he was a Golf God from 1997-2008. And I feel lucky to have witnessed it. NEXT…

  28. Dr Troy

    Nov 2, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    AGREED!

  29. John Triscott

    Nov 2, 2015 at 1:19 pm

    EDIT: Woods 1st tourney after scandal was the 2010 Masters. Not 2009.

  30. Lincoln

    Nov 2, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    Sounds very similar to Haney’s book.

  31. rockflightxl1000

    Nov 2, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    Wants to be absolved of any involvement in Tiger’s transgressions. Perhaps donating all the money he won w/ Tiger would have a greater societal forgiveness impact than writing a book. #doubtit!

  32. spazo

    Nov 2, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    he sounds like a whiny jerk. he and tiger deserve each other.

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News

Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the Houston Open gets underway.

1. Wyndham Clark hurts back…still hopes to play

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Reigning U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark injured his back while working out at home Monday, but he hopes to play in this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open, which starts Thursday at Memorial Park Golf Course.”

  • “Clark, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world, said he was lifting weights and “got caught in an awkward spot doing a lift and [his] back went.”
  • “It’s not something that happens regularly, but it happened and you live and you learn,” Clark said. “I’m trending in the right direction. I’m hitting it or feeling stronger and more mobile every day. I’m going to give it my best effort tomorrow and hopefully I can play and compete. If not, I’ve got to get ready for tournaments to come after this.”
Full piece.

2. DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.”

  • “We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.
  • “Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”
Full piece.

3. Charley Hull’s course management problem?

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.”

  • “After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.”
  • “While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.”
  • “I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.
  • “The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.
  • “In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else.
Full piece.

4. Sahith’s interesting idea

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Which brings Theegala to his big idea: “There’s got to be something, like a fan challenge or – I think it would be awesome to see a scratch handicap go out and play like the Monday after a tournament, keep the same conditions and see what they would shoot just to put it into perspective how hard a PGA Tour golf course is.”

  • “Theegala loves the thought so much that he’d even come out and watch.”
  • “Shoot, I’d commentate on it,” Theegala added before continuing, “I have a pet peeve, sometimes when I watch golf on TV, a great example is hole 8 at Valspar last week. It’s a 230-yard par 3, the green’s 12 yards wide and someone will hit the middle of the green and, you know, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, really smart shot there.’ I’m like, ‘Well, no, he’s absolutely laced this 4-iron in the middle of the green, that’s right where he’s looking and to hit a 4-iron that straight is really, really hard.’ … Even like chipping, a lot of the stuff just looks flat on TV, but then when you get over the chip, like, oh, great, I have to land it over a mound on a downslope down grain?”
Full piece.

5. Top am Rachel Heck not going pro

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”As Rachel Heck nears the end of her college golf career, she has decided that the LPGA isn’t for her.’

  • “Heck, the 22-year-old Stanford senior who won an NCAA individual title as a freshman and has climbed as high as second in the world amateur rankings, penned a first-person essay for No Laying Up in which she explained her reasoning for remaining amateur after graduation this summer and starting an internship not in professional golf but rather private equity. Heck, a political science major, also will be pinned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.”

Read her piece on No Laying Up: https://nolayingup.com/blog/why-im-remaining-an-amateur

Full piece.

6. DJ’s new LIV signing

Golf Monthly’s Elliott Heath…”Dustin Johnson‘s LIV Golf team 4Aces GC has announced former TravisMathew CEO Chris Rosaasen as the side’s new General Manager.”

  • “Rosaasen, who is a long-time friend of Johnson, is also the founder of the team’s apparel sponsor Extracurricular and has been CEO of the Omniverse Group for the past four years.
  • “He joins with more than 20 years of “brand-building, marketing, and business leadership” according to LIV Golf, which says his “record of innovation in the golf industry will strengthen and accelerate the growth of the 4Aces GC brand.”
Full piece.

7. Photos from the Houston Open

  • Check out all of our photos from this week’s event!
Full piece.
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Four books for a springtime review

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One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.

There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.

        

Rainmaker

Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.

Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.

My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.

Decision: Buy It!

The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor

Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.

Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.

My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.

Decision: Buy It!!

Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal

Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.

One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.

Decision: Buy It!!!

Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie

Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.

Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.

My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.

Decision: Buy Them!!!!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.

As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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