Steve Williams, who caddied for Tiger Woods for 12 years, has come out of retirement to team up with Anthony Quayle for the Australian PGA Championship where the winner earns a Masters spot
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 26: Anthony Quayle of Australia is seen with his caddie Steve Williams ahead of the BMW Australian PGA Championship 2025 at Royal Queensland Golf Club on November 26, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
Tiger Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams has emerged from retirement to partner with rising pro Anthony Quayle for the opening event of the DP World Tour season.
Woods has remained absent from the 2025 campaign after the 15-time major winner tore his left Achilles during training back in March. He has been supporting his son Charlie on the golf course during this period, while also developing his romance with Vanessa Trump.
Williams has worked as a caddie for numerous elite golfers, including Jason Day, Greg Norman, and Adam Scott. Nevertheless, he is most famous for his partnership with Woods from 1999 to 2011, during which the American dominated as the world’s number one player for most of that era.
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Following four decades in the profession, Williams chose to hang up his caddie bib. Yet, the 62 year old will make his comeback carrying the bag for Quayle at the Australian PGA Championship – the opening tournament of the 2025-26 DP World Tour campaign.
Quayle is making his debut appearance after securing one of three DP World Tour cards through the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s order of merit last season. The 31 year old is thrilled to have Williams alongside him, comparing his knowledge to possessing a “15th club” in his arsenal, reports the Mirror US.
LA JOLLA, CA – JANUARY 30: Tiger Woods pulls his club for his tee shot on the third hole as caddie Steve Williams looks on during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South Course on January 30, 2011 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
“I’m just incredibly fortunate that Steve was willing to come and help me out,” Quayle told Australian Golf Digest. “It’s just a really cool experience. I think having somebody like Steve on your bag, you can’t help but feel you’ve maybe got a 15th club in the bag.
“There’s a fair bit of experience and golf IQ that comes along with his career. Just really excited about the next couple weeks.”
Williams is delighted to partner with Quayle, a Queensland Open and PGA champion who secured a top 15 finish at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews. It’s a crucial tournament; the victor will secure a spot in next year’s Masters, while the top three finishers will earn a place in The Open at Royal Birkdale.
Anthony Quayle ‘got the talent and ability’
“Anthony’s had a lot of experience, and he’s got the great opportunity this year of playing on the DP World Tour,” Williams said. “It’s a first time experience for him and he’s got the talent and ability. If I can pass on any information that might assist him in his journey, it’s worth it. I don’t look at it from the results standpoint these two weeks, it’s about what he can get out of me and to encourage him to fulfil his potential.”
He added: “Anthony’s got the game. It’s the first time I’ve seen him play up close and that should he be fortunate enough to get a win at the Australian Open, he’s got the game to play at Augusta.
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“Everybody next week will be excited. It just brings another level to the Australian Open. It’s a fantastic event in itself and if you look at that Stonehaven Cup through the years, and the great players who traveled the world and won the Australian Open, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus for example, and it was always considered along with the Canadian Open, outside of the majors, as one of the most important tournaments in golf.
“Now that the Augusta is inviting the winner to play the Masters, it just gives an added edge, a bit more importance to it. So, there’ll be a lot on the line next Sunday afternoon.”
The Australian PGA Championship is scheduled for Nov. 26-30 at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
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