Steve Williams: Tiger Woods’ injuries may be self inflicted

Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams has cast doubt on the former world No1's chances of winning another major and suggested the injury problems he has suffered in recent years might be self-inflicted.

“I don’t doubt he will come back to the winner’s circle. He is a great competitor, he has an incredible work ethic – when he can work hard – and one thing he does know how to do is win,” said Williams in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. “But whether he comes back and wins major championships? That’s going to be a very difficult task.”

Some may suggest those comments are sour grapes on Williams’s part given his relationship with Woods broke down in 2011 having helped him win 13 of his 14 major titles.

Since the last of those, 2008’s US Open at Torrey Pines, Woods has suffered much-publicised personal problems while professionally he has fallen to 467 in the world rankings while recovering from a spell out following back surgery last autumn. The 39-year-old claimed he had “nothing to look forward to” in December with it rumoured earlier this year that he was close to retiring.

"I guess when he looks back, he might question some of the activities that he did, some of the gym work that he might have done that, you know, had all these injuries escalate," added Williams, who now caddies for the Australian world No6 Adam Scott. "It is very hard to pinpoint how he has got to where he is now, but I'd have to say there is a lot merit in [Woods' injuries being caused by him training as an athlete rather than a golfer]."

Speaking about Scott’s chances of adding to his 2013 Masters win at this year’s tournament at Augusta, which begins on April 4th, Williams, who hails from New Zealand, said: “Caddying for Adam has been like a breath of fresh air for me. I’m really looking forward to seeing if he can win one more.

“I always say to Adam, many players win one major and that’s great but to be recognised as one of the top players in the game... you want to have multiple majors beside your name.”

(Guardian service)