Capelle On Golf

Steve Williams has carte blanche to question any decision Tiger Woods makes. That’s the nature of their relationship – one that’s built on Woods’ complete respect for Williams’ expertise and his complete trust in his judgment.

On the final hole of regulation at this year’s US Open at Torrey Pines Woods was prepared to go with his wedge. That’s when Williams asserted himself and insisted that Tiger use his 60-degree wedge instead.

“But I figured he only had one chance - to hit that 60-degree club as hard as he could and squeeze a little more distance out of it. And that’s exactly what he did. It landed just beyond the pin, had some spin on it and came right back towards the hole.”

Williams has labeled this clubbing one if his “greatest ever.” And why he shouldn’t he, for it helped Woods bag a birdie and to orchestrate a highlight reel moment for the ages.

Now let’s rewind to the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot. Phil Mickelson was leading by one when he hit his drive into the left rough behind a stand of trees on the 72nd hole. The prudent play was to knock the ball back into the fairway. Heads Mickelson makes a par and wins, tails he makes a bogey and comes back for a playoff with Geoff Ogilvy the next day.

So what does Jim “Bones” MacKay do? He lets his impetuous employer go for the green with a long iron through the trees. And you know the rest: a quick six and Mickelson’s fourth second in the US Open. Shorty thereafter Mickelson uttered these famous words: “I am such an idiot.”

Ironically, Mickelson could have won outright from wedge distance while Woods was forced to get down in two just to survive and advance to a playoff.

In a crucial situation, Bones will be remembered for his famous non-call. In a situation where Williams would have tackled Tiger before his would let him play that long iron, Bones passively let Mickelson do his river gambler routine. What’s so strange is that Bones confers with Mickelson in great detail on so many matters. But this time he either agreed with Phil, had nothing to say, or had no influence on the most important decision of Mickelson’s career.

There is a huge gap, as you know, between the world’s number 1 and number 2 players. It seems their peers feel the same way about their caddies. In a Sports Illustrated survey, 52% of the players named Williams as the best caddie on tour. MacKay received 15% of the votes.

Nowhere was that difference more apparent than on the 72nd holes of the 2006 and 2008 US Opens. The number 2 caddy helped the number 2 player to a second. Two years later the number 1 caddy was instrumental in assisting the number 1 player to a first.

Trading Caddies
Just for fun, let’s assume that Williams is worth one shot per 72 holes more than MacKay. That’s a difference of about .35%. Now let’s assume that these two players had used each other’s caddies since May of 1999 when Williams came aboard. Worst case scenario (for Mickelson): Mickelson trails Woods 11 to 3 in majors won. Best case: Mickelson now trails Woods 10 to 6.

Woods with Jim MacKay – He wins 10 or 11 majors
1999 PGA – playoff with Sergio Garcia – outcome in doubt.
2000 PGA – A win turns into a second.
2005 Masters – A win turns into a second.
2008 US Open – A win turns into a 2t.

Mickelson with Steve Williams – He wins 3 to 6 majors
1999 US Open – enters a playoff with Payne Stewart
2001 PGA – enters a playoff with David Toms
2006 US Open – enters into a playoff with Geoff Ogilvy