SHANGHAI (AP) — Already one of the most festive evenings in golf, the annual Caddies Awards roast was buzzing with talk that Tiger Woods' former caddie might be getting a prize.
One award was called "Celebration of the Year." Everyone knew who would get it and why.
The surprise was how Steve Williams ripped into his old boss with a racial slur that caused even more commotion involving the jilted caddie and golf's biggest name.
"He's a character within the game of golf, and whatever bitterness that exists between him and Tiger should be in the past by now," said Graeme McDowell, one of several players at the party. "It's unfortunate that it's going to rear it's head again."
Williams, still angered over getting fired by Woods this summer, was working for Adam Scott when he won the Bridgestone Invitational. That tournament also was the first time Woods played since splitting with his caddie. An emotionally charged Williams gave a TV interview on the 18th green and called it "the best win of my life," even though he had been on the bag for 13 majors with Woods.
On Friday night, the host called Williams to the stage to collect his award and asked him to explain his enthusiasm. Williams, with a smirk on his face, leaned toward the microphone and said, "It was my aim to shove it right up that black a------."
On a night filled with banter and off-color remarks, this one was a show-stopper. Heads turned, eyes widened and jaws dropped amid a mixture of shock and laughter.
Williams later issued a statement apologizing to Woods. That was good enough for Scott, who said he had no plans to fire his caddie.
"I think everything in that room last night was all in good spirits and for a bit of fun," Scott said after his third round Saturday at the HSBC Champions. "And I think it probably got taken out of that room in the wrong context."
Even as players and caddies spilled into the bar, they couldn't stop talking about it — some because of the racial overtones, some because of how Williams so openly showed his disdain for Woods.
