Tiger Woods spares caddie the sack

Tiger Woods has spared caddie Steve Williams the sack, stating that he would continue to carry his bag in 2009, despite a verbal attack on rival Phil Mickelson.   

Speaking at a charity dinner last week, Williams said of Mickelson: “I think he’s a p****.”

Mickelson responded: "After seeing Steve Williams' comments, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones (Jim Mackay) on my bag and representing me.”

Rivals Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in pictures

At a press conference ahead of his own tournamenet, the Chevron World Challenge in California, Woods said: “What ended up happening is I communicated with Phil, and we have discussed it. I talked to Stevie about it, and he feels bad, what happened.

"It's something that none of us really wanted to have happen, but it's over and done with and we put it to bed."

And asked whether Williams would continue as caddie, the world number one confirmed: "Yeah, he'll be on the bag.”

Those words will come as a relief to New Zealander Williams who has caddied for Woods since 1999, during which time the pair have become close friends.  

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