Williams admits to ‘being over the top’ in Tiger rant

And the New Zealand caddie, so overjoyed at helping Adam Scott land the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron on Sunday, does not intend to make any more comments about Woods.

“Looking back on it, I was a bit over the top,” Williams said. “I had a lot of anger in me about what happened and it all came out.”

Williams called it “the most satisfying win of my career” despite having shared in 13 majors with Woods during their 12 years together.

“I said what I said, but I’m not going to say any more about Tiger. I had a lot of emotions going on all week. You hear people say ‘How good are you now that you’re not caddieing for Tiger?’, things like that and it makes you want to prove yourself.

“When we were coming down the stretch and all those people were calling out my name, I mean I’ve never experienced anything like that and when Adam won, all of a sudden, all that emotion poured out.

“But, look, it’s time to move on. The Tiger thing is over.”

With Woods and Scott teeing off only 40 minutes apart in the first two rounds of the US PGA Championship in Atlanta tomorrow and Friday there is a distinct possibility that, if they reach halfway on the same score, they will be paired together in the third round.

That would have added spice following Williams’s remarks.

The New Zealander’s comments have created a stir on the range.

World No 2 Westwood said yesterday: “I thought there was no relevance to the interview other than to have a good dig at Tiger Woods in the ribs.

“There’s obviously a bit of friction there. I didn’t see the point in putting him on TV.”

Meanwhile, Open champion Darren Clarke was up at 4.30am yesterday to play nine holes of practice with Rory McIlroy, just as he did at Sandwich.

He saw similarities in how he played too. “Poorly,” he said.

“I shall be spending quite a bit of time on the range trying to figure it out a little bit, but obviously it’s totally different conditions.

“The heat is going to be a massive factor this week. Obviously, I’m a finely-tuned athlete, so it should not affect me that much!”

Sunday is Clarke’s 43rd birthday and, having celebrated his first major title all through the night and beyond, he said that if he won again: “I may go AWOL for a few days again.”