PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Adam Scott and caddie Steve Williams are scheduled to resume their partnership this week on the PGA Tour at the Genesis Invitational, but Mother Nature has had other plans.
Williams, who lives in New Zealand, was still en route from his home in Auckland after Cyclone Gabrielle hammered the country’s North Island. When asked if Williams had made it to the Golden State yet during his 2 p.m. PT news conference Wednesday, Scott said, “Not yet, A couple hours out still.”
The cyclone disrupted nearly 600 flights, including the flight Williams was scheduled to take. Government officials in New Zealand declared a state of emergency after what reportedly was one of the worst storms in years. Scott used Liam Bedor, the head of operations for L.A.B. Putters, as a fill-in caddie during Wednesday’s pro-am.
Williams, who was on the bag for 13 of the 15 majors won by Tiger Woods, worked for Scott from 2011 until 2017, including when Scott won the 2013 Masters and reached No. 1 in the world. Scott said they had remained friends and in communication and had a conversation about reuniting at the end of last season. They worked two events together in Australia in December.
“We slipped back into the rhythm really quickly and we had a good couple weeks and I expect that to happen out here as well,” Scott said. “Having him come out fresh at this point, it’s just funny how at different times in your life, he’s now hit a point where his kid’s grown up and probably doesn’t want to hang with Dad quite as much and he’s itching to get back out here, as much as he’d hate to admit it, it’s in his blood to be out here and caddie and he loves it, and I’m pleased that we’re going to have the opportunity to do a bit more together.”
Scott’s plan is for Williams and Greg Hearmon to share caddie duties.
“[Stevie’s] a pretty intense guy. Whether he was working for me or working for any other pro, whether he’s competing at driving his race car or whether he’s raking the leaves off his lawn at home, he’s an intense character once he gets his mind on something,” Scott said. “There’s no changing that personality. He’s out here to achieve. I think that can be a really good influence on me.”
Scott said he’s eyeing the next three years as a window where he can add at least another major to his resume, and no caddie has been more successful in the majors than Williams.
“I thought about it long and hard. Given where my life is overall, a full season of Steve could be too intense and not productive but a bit of Steve and a bit of Greg could really complement me,” he said. “The next three years unless I have some injury pop up, I’m in good shape to contend. I see everything settling into place where I can be a top 10 player in the world and therefore a legitimate contender.”
Scott last competed at the Sony Hawaiian Open in January, where he finished T-29. Scott won the Genesis Invitational in 2020 and 2005 and finished T-4 last year. He has a 69.54 career scoring average in 52 rounds at Riviera.
Scott’s tee time for Thursday’s first round is 10:35 a.m. ET (7:35 a.m. local time). He’s hopeful that Williams will be by his side.
