In 2007, Tiger Woods’ critics were circling the wagon. Despite winning twice early in the year, Woods faced mounting pressure because he’d held a share of the lead in the final rounds at the Masters and US Open but stumbled to finished second. He also tied 12th at the British Open.
One of Woods’ most vocal antagonists was South African-born golfer Rory Sabbatini. In the third round at the Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, Sabbatini said he wanted to play in the final group with Woods on Sunday, as if to throw down the gauntlet.
Their scores matched up and they were placed in the final group on Sunday. But Woods shot 69 to Sabbatini’s 74 and not only whooped Sabbatini by five shots, but also won the tournament. Woods went on to win the final major of 2007, the PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
However, Sabbatini stuck to his guns. He said after that final round at Quail Hollow: “(Woods) struggled out there today; he had to battle out there (to win) and I think he made me realise he’s as beatable as ever.”
Williams was Woods’ caddie at the time (from 1999 to 2011) and won 13 Majors on Woods’ bag. On the Chasing Majors podcast, Williams reveals how silly he thought Sabbatini’s comments were:
“Look, Rory was a standup character and he beat to his own drum,” Williams said on episode 12. “But I don’t think that’s the sort of comment you should make when you’d just had your ass kicked.”
List to Williams’ reaction that day in full at the 9-minute mark:
