UNITED STATES WIN THE SPIRIT AMATEUR TOURNEY BY 10 STROKES

The United States won the biennial Spirit International amateur tournament for the second time in a row at The Whispering Pines Golf Club, Trinity, Texas today.
They had 10 shots to spare at the finish.
England finished T12 and Ireland 17th of the 20 competing teams.
Scotland (the SGU and SLGA) declined an invitation to send a team this year.
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D J RUSSELL WINS 120,000 Euros + A MERCEDES BENZ IN JAPAN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

North-Berwick based David J Russell won the biggest prize of his career this weekend by claiming the Fuji Film Senior Championship on the PGA of Japan Seniors Tour.

The 57-year-old Birmingham-born Englishman, who is attached to Archerfield Links,  travelled to the final tournament of the Japanese Senior season, which was won by Ian Woosnam in 2009, on an exemption for European Senior Tour players and it turned out to be a successful and lucrative venture as he walked away with 14,000,000 Japanese Yen (over €120,000) and a Mercedes Benz car.

Russell’s win came courtesy of a final round of 68, after his opening round of 67 was followed by a 70 and he finished on 11 under par, two shots clear of Jong-Duck Kim, while the Senior Tour’s reigning John Jacobs Trophy champion Boonchu Ruangkit finished tied for 24th place.

“I'm absolutely delighted,” said Russell, who equalled his best finish on the Senior Tour this year with a tied tenth finish at the Belas Clube de Campo Senior Open de Portugal in October.

“It’s really nice to win, especially with it being the biggest prize fund of my career, it’s a real boost.

“It was a great gesture from the PGA Tour of Japan to give an exemption to European Senior Tour players for their season-ending tournament and I wanted to acknowledge that and represent our tour out here at what is a great tournament.

“I’ll come back with a lot of tales, I learned a lot here, and hopefully now our Tour can work closely with the PGA Tour of Japan. I think this week has done a lot for the relationship between their tour and ours.

“They have some wonderful players out here and the tournament was really focussed around entertaining the crowds and making it a big atmosphere. There were big crowds and a lot of media focus from television and newspapers.”

The strong relationship between The European Tour and the PGA Tour of Japan culminated in the hosting of the Handa Cup Senior Masters at Ohmurasaki Golf Club in Saitama last November, which counted on the 2011 senior Tour schedule and was won by Massy Kuramoto.

Russell did struggle towards the end of his win with a knee injury that has dogged him this year but hopes to be back in action for the Senior Tour’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius on December 9-11.

LEE CLINCHES EUROPEAN TOUR CARD BUT DOAK MISSES OUT

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT BY NEIL AHERN
European Tour Assistant Press Officer

After a dramatic day at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, Craig Lee said he was “delighted” to walk out with a card for The European Tour in the bag after his tied 19th finish in Italy was enough to see him finish 14th in the Challenge Tour Rankings.

The Stirling man, pictured during the final round by courtesy of © Phil Inglis), shot a level par 71 on a much tougher day at San Domenico Golf, on Italy’s Adriatic coast, but the most nerve-racking moments of the day were yet to come as he waited in the clubhouse for other results to filter through.

Lee had a top 20 finish secured but was on the brink of missing out on a top 15 finish, which earns a better category for next year’s European Tour International Schedule, and proclaimed himself a happy and relieved man when the final Rankings were confirmed.

“It was a very tense day but I’m delighted to finish 14th in the end,” said the 34 year old afterwards. “It looked like it was touch and go for a while, but I’m over the moon.

“Originally I was looking for a top ten, but to finish 16th would have been a really bad end to a good year so I’m very pleased with myself now.

“Obviously my management were here keeping an eye on the Rankings and it was pretty tough for them as well, but it looks like everything’s going to be rosy in the garden.”

Lee once again started with a bogey, for the fourth day running, before a birdie on the third pulled him back level; but a bogey on the eighth hole meant he carded a one over par front nine of 35.

It was the windiest day of the week and the Scot did well to keep steady around the back nine, with eight pars and a birdie on the 15th hole earning him a 71.

Compatriot Chris Doak, meanwhile, missed out on the top 20, having needed a big finish to the season at the Mediterranean links in the Puglia region of Italy.

He shot a three under par round of 68 to finish nine under par for the tournament, in tied 15th, but it was not enough to elevate him into contention for a European Tour spot, and he stayed static in 36th position in the Rankings, the same position in which he started the week.

“They were tough conditions out there, so I’ll take the 68. It was a lot to ask to come in the top two, but I had been playing well all year so I didn’t see any reason why it wouldn’t happen, I just never holed many putts.

“The year has been good all in all, my first full season on Challenge Tour so it’s good to get a full year under your belt, I’ve learned a lot. I’ll go to the European Tour Qualifying School now and hopefully get my card there and take it from there.

“I've been there a few times and qualified through Qualifying School in 2009. I missed by a shot last year too so I like the course, I score well there and if the putting works then there’s no reason why I can’t get my card there.”

Home hero Pavan edged his final day shoot-out with Tommy Fleetwood at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, but it was the young Englishman who ended the season as the Challenge Tour Rankings Number One, becoming the youngest winner in the 22-year history of the Challenge Tour.

On a day of high winds and even higher drama in Puglia, southern Italy, the Roman delighted the locals at San Domenico Golf, his home from home, with a one-stroke victory over Fleetwood, whose runner-up finish ensured he would usurp his compatriot Sam Little at the top of the Rankings.

CHALLENGE TOUR GRAND FINALE SCOREBOARD

Apulia San Domenico Grand Final

San Domenico Golf, Puglia, Italy

FINAL TOTALS 

Par 284(4x71)

 

267 A Pavan (Ita) 66 65 65 71

268 T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 61 69 71

270 A Marshall (Eng) 67 67 68 68, A Johnston (Eng) 67 67 65 71

271 P Edberg (Swe) 69 63 69 70

272 S Walker (Eng) 69 67 66 70, S Tiley (Eng) 67 66 70 69, J Guerrier  (Fra) 66 66 72 68, S Thornton (Irl) 67 70 71 64, J Campillo (Esp) 66 69 70 67

273 F Colombo (Ita) 72 66 65 70

274 F Praegant (Aut) 69 65 68 72, S Little (Eng) 67 68 71 68, B Hebert  (Fra) 67 69 70 68

275 C Doak (Sco) 71 65 71 68, E Dubois (Fra) 70 66 70 69, C Lloyd (Eng) 68 65 69 73, V Riu  (Fra) 68 67 65 75

276 C Lee (Sco) 69 66 70 71, C Gane (Eng) 68 65 72 71, A Tadini (Ita) 69 66 71 70, J Elson  (Eng) 67 72 71 66, J Lima  (Por) 69 68 66 73, R Santos  (Por) 66 69 69 72

277 J Quesne  (Fra) 69 69 66 73, L Jensen (Den) 72 65 67 73

278 M Erlandsson (Swe) 68 72 68 70, T Ferreira  (RSA) 72 63 70 73, A Snobeck  (Fra) 69 70 67 72

279 C Russo (Fra) 68 68 70 73, B Grace  (RSA) 70 67 68 74, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 67 70 71

280 A Tampion  (Aus) 69 70 70 71, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 70 70 71

281 D Denison  (Eng) 69 70 70 72, M Baldwin (Eng) 69 70 66 76, F Delamontagne  (Fra) 71 70 68 72

282 J Moul  (Eng) 73 72 69 68, L Kennedy  (Eng) 70 71 68 73

283 E Kofstad (Nor) 70 69 69 75

284 N Meitinger  (Ger) 73 67 71 73

285 K Borsheim  (Nor) 72 72 71 70

286 P Archer (Eng) 73 71 70 72, M Bothma (RSA) 71 68 75 72

288 M Southgate  (Eng) 73 73 69 73

 

 

TAIWAN MASTERS REPORT AND LEADING SCORES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOURTaipei, November 5: Local stalwart Lu Wei-chih held on to his lead at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters courtesy of a superb hole-in-one in the third round today.
Lu holed out on the par three eighth hole with a six iron before adding two bogeys for an even-par 72 on his home course, the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, winner of the event in 2004, battled to a 71 to lie four shots off the pace on 208 at the US$600,000 Asian Tour event.
Teen sensation Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines and Japanese Daisuke Kataoka fired rounds of 72 and 69 respectively to lie a further two shots back on 210 while Chapchai Nirat of Thailand was in fifth place.
Lu failed to emulate his fantastic form in the opening two rounds and admitted he was lucky to cling on to the top spot where he leads on 12-under-par 204.
“Honestly, I felt tired. The sun was really hot yesterday (Friday) and I didn’t feel that well today. I told myself to play it safe and I’m lucky to be leading because of my hole-in-one,” said Lu, who shot his eighth career ace today.
He knows he must overcome the strong challenge from Thaworn to reclaim the Mercuries Taiwan Masters which he won in 2005.
“Thaworn is a good player so there is some pressure going into the final round but I’ll keep a cool head and just play my game. It won’t be easy,” said Lu, a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Thaworn, a former Asian Tour number one, posted two birdies against one bogey to give himself a chance of equalling Thongchai Jaidee’s record of 13 Asian Tour victories.
“I didn’t feel comfortable with my club selections on some holes but I’m still in it with a chance. Lu is playing very well and this is his home course so I still have a lot of work to do,” said Thaworn.
Tabuena, the youngest Asian Tour member at the age of 17, missed a five foot birdie putt on the last hole to trail Lu by six shots. He knows he still has much to play for as a good result will boost his rankings on the Order of Merit where he sits in 108th position.
The top-60 players at the end of the season will earn playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2012.
“My putting let me down. I missed a lot of makeable birdies from five feet but there’s still another day to go and much to play for,” said Tabuena, who is searching for his first professional victory.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
204 - LU Wei-chih (TPE) 66-66-72.
208 - Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 69-68-71.
210 - Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 69-72-69, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 67-71-72.
212 - Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 67-72-73.
213 - Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 72-69-72, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 70-70-73.
214 - Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 72-72-70, Miles TUNNICLIFF (ENG) 72-69-73.
215 - Chris RODGERS (ENG) 71-74-70, WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 71-74-70, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 72-73-70, Ben FOX (USA) 73-72-70, Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 71-73-71, LU Wen-teh (TPE) 70-73-72, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 71-71-73.
216 - HSU Mong-nan (TPE) 74-73-69, Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 70-76-70, Zaw MOE (MYN) 69-75-72.
217 - Artemio MURAKAMI (PHI) 76-70-71, TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 75-71-71, Angelo QUE (PHI) 72-71-74, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 70-68-79.

FREDRIK JACOBSON TAKES TWO-SHOT LEAD INTO FINAL ROUND

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Some spectacular putting swept Swede Fredrik Jacobson into a two-shot lead with a round to go at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China.
The 37-year-old had a five-under-par 67 in the third round, which included holing twice from 15 feet, twice from over 20 feet and - at the long 14th - from more than 30 feet.
Trying to become the tenth different winner in the last ten WGC events - and this after the last 13 Majors had 13 different winners - Jacobson stands 16 under par on 200.
South African Louis Oosthuizen (68) is second and Australian Adam Scott three back in third, while Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood kept their hopes alive with rounds of 65 and 67 respectively to be four behind in joint fourth spot.
The 31-year-old Scott's chances of back-to-back World Golf Championships victories had nosedived when he took 7 on the long eighth and then 6 at the 594yd 14th.
But he then followed birdies at the 16th and 17th with a pitch to the last that spun into the hole for an eagle 3 and a 69.
McIlroy walked away hand-in-hand with tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki after a seven-birdie, bogey-free display that means he might yet complete a two-week Chinese double.
The 22-year-old US Open Champion from Northern Ireland beat American Anthony Kim in a play-off for the Shanghai Masters last Sunday and the winner at Sheshan International will receive €842,217.
Westwood, twice a runner-up at the event, did not drop a stroke either and, with Ernie Els down in 53rd place in the 78-man field, could well take over as the greatest money-earner in European Tour history. He currently has €25,848,392 to the South African's €26,100,907.
It is Jacobson he is trying to catch rather than Els, though, and the three-time European Tour winner was delighted with his day's work.
Jacobson had a hat-trick of birdies from the second and bounced straight back from a bogey at the difficult ninth with one of his 15-footers at the next.
A 25ft putt followed three holes later and the one on the next was a real bonus after he had driven into the rough and been forced to lay up.
In the early stages England's Paul Casey had loomed as potentially the biggest threat.
After a year of battling a foot injury, Casey was only two back after an 18ft eagle putt dropped at the eighth.
But after completing an outward 32 he was disturbed by a noise on the tenth tee, sent his iron into thick rough and double-bogeyed.
Chipping in at the 12th repaired some of the damage, but Casey closed with a bogey 6 after his approach to the par five landed on the bank and rolled back into the water.
A 70 left him ten under and in a tie for eighth spot, one stroke behind Graeme McDowell (67) and Martin Kaymer (68).
Last year's Open champion Oosthuizen was inches away from doing the same thing as Casey on the 538yd last, but the ball clung on to the fringe and he two-putted for birdie and his second bogey-free round in a row.
Round of the day was a 64 from China's 24 year old World No. 959 Zhang Xin-jun, and his presence alongside Casey and American Bo Van Pelt on ten under should swell the crowd no end on the final day.
Jacobson said: "I've still got to shoot a good score, but they will have to catch me. I sometimes feel a little bit stressed if I start off a few shots behind, so I prefer any time I can get a lead.
"I do feel good about my game and it's nice to make some long putts.
"It's a little bit of a bonus when you make the long ones, but that's sometimes what happens in a round.
"I try not really to worry about the result too much and focus on the procedure and the shots and the routine, and where to hit the ball. That normally takes care of a lot of potential tension."
McIlroy said of his 65: "It's definitely what I needed to give myself some sort of chance.
"I was five behind going into the last day at the Dunhill (at St Andrews last month) and made a good charge and hopefully I can do the same again.
"I just didn't make silly mistakes. I feel as if there's a lot of good scores in me and I was able to produce one of those today."
Westwood said: "I really didn't hit it very well. I struggled with my swing and wasn't very consistent.
"But I putted well and I'm going to have a chance to win the tournament. That's all you ever ask at any tournament."
Tournament Leaderboard
Pos Player name Nat Hole Par
Par 216 (3x72)
1 JACOBSON, Fredrik SWE 200
2 OOSTHUIZEN, Louis RSA 202
3 SCOTT, Adam AUS 18 203
T4 MCILROY, Rory NIR 204
T4 WESTWOOD, Lee ENG 204
T6 MCDOWELL, Graeme NIR 205
SELECTED SCORES
215 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 72 71 72 (T38).
221 Tom Lewis (England) 78 71 72 (T69).
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"Muirfield" don't have a record of supporting junior golf in East Lothian

E-mail from David Hillson

I must admit I had a bit of a chuckle when I read the Scottishgolfview.com  article (November 4) about Muirfield supporting junior golf by offering to donate money from certain visitors' tee times in November and December.
Of course, any money coming into junior golf is to be welcomed in support of the great work that goes on around the country by volunteers - so I hope that all of it gets to the grass roots level.
However, your readers (including perhaps some Muirfield members?) may be interested to know that "Muirfield" and "supporting junior golf" are not words that go together easily in East Lothian.
Ever since Muirfield members organised an excellent junior event in 2000 "to show their support for junior golf in the county," East Lothian Golf League has been asking for Muirfield's occasional support (i.e. once every few years) by agreeing to host our junior county cup (foursomes played late in the season).
Each time our request has been met with a negative response. Perhaps all the available tee times on Tuesdays and Thursdays have been fully occupied by paying visitors.
Ah well I suppose that's me blown my chances of ever being invited to join The Honourable Company!

David Hillson

CADDIE STEVE WILLIAMS APOLOGISES FOR RACIST INSULT TO TIGER

FROM THE SKY SPORTS WEBSITE
Caddie Steve Williams has apologised for making a racial remark about former employer Tiger Woods at an awards ceremony in Shanghai last night.
"I apologise for the comments I made last night at the annual Caddie Awards dinner in Shanghai," Williams said in a statement he posted on his website (www.kiwicaddie.co.nz) after he was shocked to find that his remarks had been leaked to the press.
The dinner was attended by 100 caddies, players and guests and all had had accepted their invitations on condition that they would not disclose what happened at the ceremony.
The dinner was held after the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions.
"Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realise how my comments could be construed as racist," said Williams.
"However I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologise to Tiger and anyone else I have offended."
Williams had been a regular caddie for Woods since 1999 and helped the American to win 13 of his 14 majors before being let go in July.
The New Zealander hit out at the manner and timing 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.
Williams told reporters at the time: "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 caddieing and I sincerely mean that."
He later apologised for those comments, saying his emotions got the better of him.
Williams had been called up onto the stage at the private function late on Friday to receive the "Celebration of the Year" award and, while there, he was asked to comment on how he felt at winning again with Scott so soon after leaving Woods.
The tournament organisers in Shanghai decided not to involve themselves in what Williams said.
Press officer Michele Mair said: "This was a private function. There will not be any further comment on this matter."
There was no reaction either from European Tour officials, although it is their policy not to discuss any disciplinary action taken.
Williams will have a chance to apologise in person next week as Woods and Scott are both competing at the Australian Open in Sydney.
His remarks add an extra edge to an event already being billed as "unmissable", and the pair will also be in opposition at the following week's Presidents Cup match in Melbourne.
Woods is already in Australia and was told about the remark.
His agent Mark Steinberg was reported as saying: "If multiple reports, which all seem to be accurate, are true, then it's sad it's come down to this.
"It's a regrettable comment and there's really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He's just going to move on."
Three years ago at a dinner in his home country, Williams made a disparaging remark about Phil Mickelson and Woods got him to apologise.
He has never been the most popular of caddies and his standing has now taken another knock.

Adam Scott says he will resist calls for

Steve Williams to be sacked

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

Aussie world No 8 player Adam Scott has moved to defend Steve Wiliams are widespread calls for the caddie to be sacked following a public comment about his former employer, Tiger Woods, that Williams himself later admitted "could be construed as racist."

Scott, lying third in the WGC-HSBC Champions with a round to go, said he disagreed with those who think he should dismiss Williams as his caddie.

''Steve issued a statement and apologised and he did the right thing. That's all there is to say about that from my side of things,'' he said.

''It's not an issue for me. I think everything in that room last night was all in good spirits and a bit of fun and I think it probably got taken out of that room in the wrong context.

''Anything with Tiger involved is a story. I value Steve's contribution to my game and while he's caddying I hope he can caddie for me.
''There was a lot of language used last night and it's just this was reported.

'I don't really think that stuff has ever left the room before and it's probably good reasons why. I think it's probably all very unnecessary.''
Asked if he thought Williams was a racist, he replied: ''I don't think so. I think we all know that's not the case.''
Scott also said he had not felt the need to confront Williams about the issue.
''It was already dealt with. It's been dealt with as far as I'm concerned. I thought it was all in jest. That's how the whole evening was – everything was quite amusing.
''Those things are not meant to go past that room, but obviously somebody took it out and that's the way it goes.
''There's really no safe haven for what you say and so you've got to be careful.''
The world number eight does not believe it will make life more awkward for him over the coming two weeks with Woods in direct opposition.
''I don't think it makes it harder for me – I don't think I'm the guy that's having a finger pointed at or on the receiving end,'' Scott added.
''I don't think I've done anything wrong.
''I'm the guy stuck in the middle, but I don't really have a gripe with either guy. It's for them to sort out between themselves.''

ALLEN, COUPLES. FROST SHARE LEAD AT US SENIORS' FINALE

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Michael Allen has about as much experience playing at TPC Harding Park as anyone on the Champions Tour. He has needed every bit of it in the season-ending Charles Schwab Championship.
Allen made an 8-foot putt to save par on the final hole Friday after hitting his approach between the grandstands surrounding the green, preserving a 2-under 69 for a share of the second-round lead with Fred Couples and David Frost.
"Got a little lucky," said Allen, second in the event last year. "I was trying to punch a 6-iron out to the right, which took off and went back into the stands. I made a great drop, hit a nice shot (then) knocked that one in."
The 18th hole is one of the signature holes at the coastside course and is playing tough this week. Only two players broke par on the 440-yard, par-4 hole in the second round, while 11 settled for bogey, making Allen's par save critical.
Couples, tied for the first-round lead with Jay Haas after a 68, rallied for a 70 after a double bogey on the opening hole. Frost had a 69 to match Couples and Allen at 4 under at TPC Harding Park.
Mark Calcavecchia, Jay Don Blake, Bernhard Langer and Kenny Perry were a stroke back. Calcavecchia, Blake and Langer had 68s, and Perry shot a 69. Haas was 2 under after a 72.
Charles Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman had a 72 to fall four strokes behind the leaders.
Allen hasn't won on the tour since the Senior PGA Championship in May 2009 - the first tournament he played in on the 50-and-over circuit. He's had a handful of top-five finishes since then, including last year at Harding Park when he was two strokes behind John Cook.
The Bay Area native is back in contention again this time despite sputtering on the back nine with bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12. That briefly dropped Allen two shots behind the leaders, but he made up for it with birdies on 14 and 16, then made his nice save for par on the 18th.
It wasn't easy.
Allen pushed his 6-iron approach shot wide right and the ball landed in a tight gap between the grandstands. After taking a drop, Allen hit a chip shot that settled softly on the green before making his par putt. That brought a loud roar from the crowd, including a large group of Allen's supporters who followed him throughout the round.
"It starts with the course," Allen said about his success at Harding. "I can see the breaks a little better, so it's comfortable for me. It used to be, growing up out here, bumps everywhere. You had to have some nerve to putt them."
Six players held at least a share of the lead before Frost briefly pulled away.
Frost, winless on the tour this season, made one of his best shots on the 480-yard par-4 12th when he chipped in for birdie from 12 yards out. That got the South African to 6 under but bogeys on 13 and 17 dropped him back to the pack in the clear-but-chilly conditions.
"It was just hard shaping the ball when it's so cold," Frost said. "My left hand grip has been a little weak on the club, which has not enabled me to come back around with the club. I played better the last 10 holes."
Couples, a two-time winner on tour this year, three-putted the par-4 first, then made eight consecutive pars before three birdies on the back nine gave him a share of the lead. The U.S. Presidents Cup captain is trying to become the first back-to-back winner on tour this year.
Haas aggravated a lower-back injury midway through the round. Haas walked gingerly and winced noticeably over the final seven holes, picking up a double bogey on No. 12 and a bogey on 13 to fall back.
Calcavecchia had an erratic day. He holed out for an eagle on the par-4 seventh and had four birdies, but also had three bogeys. He needs to move up at least two more spots on the leaderboard to have a chance at passing Lehman for the season points title.
"I'm in a good spot," said Calcavecchia, who played with a new driver after Ping shipped him one overnight. "I just made no putts today. The good news is I holed out a wedge and had a couple close tap-in birdies."

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CADDIE STEVE WILLIAMS CALLS TIGER WOODS A 'BLACK A--------"

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By OLIVER BROWN, in Shanghai
Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams has stunned the world of golf with an extraordinary racist insult against his former employer.
The controversial New Zealand caddie had been asked on stage, during a dinner at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, to explain his notorious gloating celebration after Adam Scott’s win at Akron in August.
He replied, in reference to Woods: “My aim was to shove it right up that black a--------!”
The remark by Williams, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images (c),  left the audience of players, caddies and sponsors aghast. While the occasion had been intended as a light-hearted celebration of the ‘caddie of the year’ award, Williams’ comment was uniformly seen as beyond the pale and escalated his bitter sniping at Woods to a new level.
Scott, the Australian world No 8 whose bag Williams took over after being sacked by Woods in July, was listening in the ground-floor room at the Le Meridien Sheshan hotel, alongside other top-10 players including Rory McIlroy.
The incident took place when Williams, who received a tongue-in-cheek award from fellow caddies for ‘celebration of the year’, was invited to recall his infamous swipe against Woods in Ohio three months ago.
The 47 year-old had accompanied Scott to a victory in the Bridgestone Invitational in their first tournament together, saying afterwards: “I have been caddieing for more than 30 years now and that is the best win of my life. A lot has been said and it is great to back it up. I back myself as a frontrunner as a caddie and I have won again.”
He later clarified: “I had a lot of emotions going on all week.
“When we were coming down the stretch and all those people were calling out my name, I mean, I’ve never experienced anything like that. And when Adam won, all of a sudden that emotion poured out. But it’s time to move on. The Tiger thing is over.”
Not if this latest performance was any gauge. The racist “black” barb in Williams’ attack betrayed the depth of his antipathy towards Woods. He had been at the former world No 1’s side for 13 of 14 of his major championship victories, winning more than £3 million in the process, before the acrimonious split.
Williams stayed consistently tight-lipped during the sex scandal that engulfed Woods in 2009 and has since claimed he feels that loyalty has been betrayed.
He said in an interview with New Zealand television, following his July firing: “You could say I’ve wasted the last two years of my life. I’ve stuck with Tiger and been incredibly loyal. I’m not disappointed I’ve been fired – that’s part of the job – but the timing is extraordinary. I, along with a lot of people, lost a lot of respect for Tiger and I pointed out before his return at the Masters in 2010 that he had to earn back my respect. Through time I hope he can gain my respect back.”
That prospect looks impossible in the wake of Williams’ outburst in China last night. Woods has so far refused to be riled by the Kiwi’s provocation, even though his agent, Mark Steinberg, was understood to have had a frank exchange with Williams over the Bridgestone speech at the US PGA Championship.
Woods would say only: “Adam has been a friend of mine, and same with Stevie. I sent Stevie a nice text after completion of play, congratulating him on his win.”
Those words had seemed sufficient to mollify Williams, until the disaffected caddie laid bare the full extent of his anger at last night’s dinner. The racism was instantly jarring, given he had never previously been on record using any such intemperate language.
One British caddie, aware of the racism row affecting England captain John Terry, disclosed he spoke for many in being shocked by the inappropriateness of the comment.
But Williams has built a reputation for controversy through his bullying nature. He once threw a camera into a lake during a skins game, when a photographer took a picture in the middle of Woods’ swing on the last hole, and another time seized one from a spectator during the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
He also generated a storm of negative publicity for Woods late in 2008 through derogatory remarks at a charity dinner, where he said of Phil Mickelson: “I can’t stand the -----.”
Many unanswered questions spread last night through the Le Meridien lobby. What had possessed Williams to make so offensive a remark about Woods, when holding a microphone in front of a gathering of more than 100 people? Will Scott, an image-conscious 31 year-old who saw the crass gaffe, choose to dispense with his services?
All that was clear was Williams’ quite vicious degree of venom towards the greatest golfer of the generation, whom he had served for more than a decade.