On Monday, Tiger Woods' former caddie, Steve Williams, published a book about his life inside the ropes, including his time with the 14-time major champion. How will the book be received in golf circles and by the general public?
Also, another member of the Class of 2011 (high school class, that is) won on the PGA Tour. This time it was Justin Thomas at the CIMB Classic. What's in store for the 22-year-old?
Our scribes weigh in on those topics and more in this week's edition of Monday Four-Ball.
1. What do you make of Steve Williams' new book about Tiger Woods, which many media outlets excerpted Sunday?
SportsCenter anchor Jonathan Coachman: Everyone knows I am a big Tiger Woods fan because of what he has done on the course. Tiger was responsible for Steve Williams' becoming a caddie everyone knows and for putting a lot of money in Williams' pocket. If things were so bad, why did Steve hang around for so long? Oh, that's right -- because he was carrying the bag of the one of the greatest players ever, and every caddie on tour would give anything for that. But then, after things go bad, you decide to write a book and put everything on front street? I don't like it when people disclose things about an intimate relationship, and I don't like this.
ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins: I'm torn. There is a part of me that thinks he shouldn't have done it. It's an unwritten part of the "caddie code." But that's also why I'm OK with his writing the book. That caddie code of silence sometimes means keeping the mental abuse quiet and having to suppress it forever. That needs to change, and this will help pull the curtain back just a little more, while being great therapy for Steve.
ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig: We have only seen the excerpts so far, but clearly Williams -- who traveled in style, stayed in nice hotels and made millions caddying for one of the game's greatest ever -- wasn't treated like a "slave.'' He clearly harbors ill will over the way Woods handled the aftermath of his scandal, which might be understandable, yet seems a lousy reason to write a book. It will be interesting to see what other details are disclosed and if any other part of his nearly 40 years as a caddie is remotely interesting.
ESPN.com senior golf writer Jason Sobel: When Hank Haney first released his book detailing his years working with Tiger, I thought it reeked of invasion of privacy and a public way of airing a private grievance. The more I thought about it and read his words, though, the more I believed he had every right to tell his story. And now I feel the same way about Williams' issuing a similar book. He deserves to be able to share his side of their relationship. I've only read one excerpt so far, but it should prove to offer some fascinating insights into one of the world's most fascinating athletes.
2. What's the ceiling for CIMB Classic winner Justin Thomas?
Coachman: It was only a matter of time before Justin Thomas won on tour. Phil Mickelson said after a practice round at the 2014 U.S. Open that Thomas would be someone to watch. The 22-year-old has repeatedly knocked on the door and stacked cash for the past year. He has talent for days, and the next step is learning how to finish at a major. What I think will be fun to watch is the friendly rivalry between guys who routinely share houses and hotels on the road: Thomas and Jordan Spieth. The ceiling is a major championship and nothing less.
Collins: His ceiling is as high as his hunger. Before everyone goes too crazy about this victory, let's remember it was a no-cut, limited-field event in Malaysia playing lift-clean-and-place. Don't get me wrong: It was an important victory, to take nothing away from Thomas. But before we jump on the "next young phenom" bandwagon, let's see what he does between now and Augusta.
Harig: There might not be one. Thomas was viewed as a potential star after getting on the PGA Tour last year. He had difficulty closing out tournaments, but now that he has, the task should be easier and the potential exists for more victories. Thomas is in the Masters and has a chance to qualify for all the WGC events. That will only help.
Sobel: I try as hard as possible to never use the term "floodgates," as in, "the floodgates are now going to open for this player." Because frankly, floodgates don't exist in golf. So no, Thomas isn't going to win at some head-shaking pace, but he's the type of player who will be entrenched in the top-25 of the world ranking soon, becoming eligible for -- and contending in -- major championships and WGC events.
3. The WGC-HSBC, the only WGC outside the United States, is in China this week. Should these events rotate globally?
Coachman: I like seeing the different cultures and the different courses around the world. I absolutely believe if these are going to be true World Golf Championships, then every player should have an advantage at some point. Making foreign players travel to the United States and have to deal with all that goes with it isn't entirely fair. It's not easy going to China and adjusting to the time difference and the hotels and the food and everything. We get greedy here in the States and don't put the shoe on the other foot. It's not just about the 18 holes on Thursday through Sunday ... it's about everything else.
Collins: First, I'm going to need someone to explain to me why we're playing a PGA Tour event in a country that has banned golf. That's like having a foreign food festival in a country of starving people. It seems a bit cruel and unusual. Yes, the World Golf Championships should move around the world to countries whose players would be or have been represented in these events in the past.
Harig: No question. It's wrong that three are in the U.S. and two at places -- Firestone and Doral -- that have lost their buzz as an every-year, limited-field tournament. Why not move the Doral event to South America every other year? Tthe next year, move the Firestone event to the UK and put it the week after The Open. It would give these tournaments a boost and also create a little longing for them in the markets (Miami, Akron) that seem indifferent to them.
Sobel: That big W at the beginning of WGC doesn't stand for "within," as in, only within U.S. borders. These are world events and should be treated as such. Now, I get the rationale. If the powers-that-be scheduled the other three WGCs at, say, Royal Melbourne, Royal Portrush and Valderrama instead of Miami, Austin and Akron, they'd be running the risk of U.S.-based players skipping them. Still, I'd rather see the major tours set their agendas based on what's right rather than what sells. I would even compromise: Rotate the other three, so at least one of them is being contested abroad at a fantastic location each year.
4. Of the PGA Tour pros who typically use/used the anchored putter, who will get the first win using the shorter flatstick?
Coachman: I think the answer is obvious. Other players, such as Keegan Bradley, have struggled in the transition. But we saw Adam Scott really pull things together this week and look very comfortable using the non-anchored putter. With his game and the fact that he is a major champion, I think Scott will win this season, and it won't take long.
Collins: It'll be Adam Scott because he has won with a short putter before. I fear for Carl Pettersson and Tim Clark and even more so for Bernhard Langer and those guys on the Champions Tour with bad backs, such as Fred Couples. Will golf be well-served if they never win again?
Harig: Adam Scott came close in Malaysia, which makes him an easy choice here. His ball-striking is often strong enough to overcome putting problems, and he appeared far more comfortable with the short putter at the CIMB Classic. He might just get that win this week in China.
Sobel: Take your pick: Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Brendan Steele. I could keep going because most of the so-called anchormen have already shown proficiency for putting with a more conventional style. I think all four of those players will win in the 2016 calendar year, and each time they do, it will be a big deal because they used to anchor their putters. Maybe by the end of next year, we'll all finally realize these guys are golfers first and were anchorers a distant second. No rule change is going to sentence them to careers in oblivion.
