Legendary caddie Steve Williams has recalled the blunt advice he gave Adam Scott that secured Australia’s first ever win at the Masters.
After a number of near-misses, most notably Greg Norman in 1986, ’87 and ’96, Australia’s Masters drought had extended to 79 years by 2013.
At that stage Williams had been with Scott for 18 months, having been fired by Tiger Woods in 2011 following a union that yielded 13 major titles.
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The partnership with Williams had elevated Scott to new heights, almost delivering a breakthrough major at The Open Championship in 2012.
At Augusta National in 2013, Scott was just one shot behind leaders Angel Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker heading into the final round, with fellow Australians Jason Day and Marc Leishman also in contention.
Day held the lead with three holes to play and appeared poised to don the famous green jacket, before bogeys at the 16th and 17th derailed his charge.
Scott had one hand on the trophy after a birdie at 18, but Cabrera also birdied the hole to force a playoff.
The pair both made par at the first playoff hole, before making their way to the 10th hole, a long downhill par-4.
In steady rain, both players had a good look at birdie, but crucially, the Argentinian was further away, meaning he’d putt first.
Cabrera hit what CBS commentator Jim Nantz called a “beautiful putt” but somehow it stayed just above the edge of the hole without dropping, leaving Scott with the biggest putt of his life.
Speaking to the Chasing Majors podcast, Williams said he knew when Scott hit his approach shot that he was ready to break Australia’s Augusta hoodoo.
“It was an interesting process, as we walk up from the second shot, that is a moment that instils confidence, not only right then, but for the rest of your life,” he said.
“In my mind that is the most important golf shot Adam has ever had to strike, and he hits it exactly 100 per cent.
“It was a beautiful golf shot. I let him go ahead so it just clicked of what was about to occur.”
It was at that point that Williams’ years of experience at Augusta National proved the difference. While Scott had never putted from that location before, Williams, who first caddied at the Masters for Greg Norman in 1987, knew exactly what it would do.
“I knew he would never have had that putt before, something told me he’s never had that putt before,” Williams recalled.
“I had the experience with Greg Norman who had that putt, and I distinctly remember it broke more than it looked.
The 2022 Masters Tournament will be live on Nine from April 8-11.
“That’s all I was thinking, and when he got up there he said, ‘Oh Steve, it’s dark, have a look’.
“I was so pleased, but if he didn’t ask me I was going to have a look anyway, because I knew he wouldn’t know how much that broke.”
Williams’ experience was the difference, because as the caddie had feared, Scott had underestimated the amount the putt would break to the left.
“He had a read, and he thought it was a cup out (to the right), and I said, ‘That’s not even f—ing close, it’s two-and-a-half cups with a bit of speed’,” he said.
“I don’t know if that was the right word to use at the time, but he stood there, and he looked confident, made a beautiful stroke and the rest is history.”
Scott also spoke to the Chasing Majors podcast, noting how it’s every player’s dream to have a putt to win a major title.
“I stood over that putt, and I knew that putt is actually to win the Masters. I made a stroke that I felt showed I wanted to win,” he recalled.
“It went in the left half of the hole and it was probably going four or five feet by, it was a pretty fast putt.
“To make that putt more times than not it had to be a confident roll. If I’d dollied it down that it could lip in (but) it could also break across the front.”
Nine years later Williams says the joy of the moment remains as fresh as it did in 2013.
“I get goosebumps now thinking about it. It was an absolute delight to see Adam do that and see one of his dreams come true,” he said.
“He wanted it so badly and to be on the bag and see someone fulfil a destiny, a dream, it was very special.”
Chasing Majors is hosted by golf journalist Evin Priest. The first series is co-hosted by Steve Williams, covering the 13 major titles he won with Tiger Woods. The series is available now via Spotify or Apple.
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