Tiger Woods Rewards Great Loyalty with Simple Betrayal

Watch Eldrick Woods closely and you might figure out that with golf's most watched character, it's all about betrayal.

Steve Williams saw it coming, but that still didn't sit well with him. Stevie had been around his guy long enough to know who he really is. And even though he sensed it, nothing has an impact like betrayal.

Williams has spoken of time and loyalty. "I'm a big stickler for loyalty and I stuck with Tiger through his difficult period when a lot of people thought I should have left his side."

Keep in mind Williams is a Kiwi, a New Zealander and that's how they are, it's how a lot of Australians are. Have been around both and they are wonderful, fun-loving, enjoyable, loyal folk.

Most of all, Williams was the perfect "bad guy" for the "bad guy." And say what you want, Woods has long been a bad guy.

His wife found out and Elin learned first hand what betrayal involves. That entire episode had to make Williams uncomfortable due to the fact that he was in Woods' wedding and Woods was in his.

The wives were solid friends so you can only imagine the conversation Mrs. Williams had with the hubby when Eldrick's marital "transgressions" became world-wide focus. One of those who thought Stevie should have "left his side" was probably his wife.

Kiwi loyalty. One speculation that lasted through the drawn-out Woods "episode" is that so many people declared "Stevie had to have known."

Williams went beyond caddie, he was a bodyguard and friend.

The player-caddie relationship is hard to describe but I've experienced it first-hand. Spent time out there years ago as a PGA Tour caddie when the money was a lot less but the pressure was still the same. These guys only get paid when they play well. Andy Bean once told me this, and it is very true:

"On the PGA Tour, when you're winning and making money, nothing's better. When you're playing poorly and you're not winning, missing cuts, nothing's worse."

Big Andy always had a way of cutting to the chase.

With Woods, there was fame and money for Williams and at this point, you'd figure this might be just what he needs. Really, who wants Eldrick's B.S. these days?

Here's a guy who has fired two the game's finest teachers, a guy who can change people in his camp in the blink of an eye. Woods demands loyalty but as we now see, it's a one-way street.

What's next for Woods?

Williams already has his next gig; it's Adam Scott and those two will have a great time.

As for Eldrick?

He's probably got his eye on Tony Navarro. Tony was a youngster, a new caddie on tour when I was out there back in 1981.

Probably makes good sense because having known Tony, he can suck it up and put up with a lot of crap.

And if he throws in with Eldrick, there's plenty of crap to go around.

Just don't expect any loyalty.

Tom Edrington caddied on the PGA Tour in 1981. He was Hal Sutton's caddie at the 1981 Fall Tour School. Fortunately, Sutton earned his card and less than two years later won the 1983 PGA Championship, was the PGA Tour's leading money winner and was named Player of the Year by the PGA of America.