Presidents Cup 2011: Tiger Woods and Steve Williams Soap Opera Hits the Links

You can't write the stuff that has gone on between Tiger Woods and former caddie Steve Williams. You just can't. 

In fact, I dare you to try. Goodness knows it won't be as dramatic as what has gone on between these two in real life.

The odd part, seeing as how we're talking about a golfer and a caddie, is that the feud between Tiger and Williams has nothing to do with golf. In the grand scheme of things, golf is a footnote.

Things will be a little different on Thursday. The Presidents Cup will be getting underway at Royal Melbourne, and Tiger, Williams and Williams' new employer, Australian golfer Adam Scott, will all be in attendance.

And they'll be in the same pairing.

No joke.

The three of them won't be alone, of course. Per ESPN.com, Woods will be paired with Steve Stricker and Scott will be paired with K.J. Choi. Presumably, their presence (and that of their own caddies) will keep this friendly golf outing from turning into a royal rumble.

Nonetheless, it will certainly be good television, even if U.S. captain Fred Couples insists that putting the trio together was unintentional.

"We did not plan anything,'' said U.S. captain Couples. "But I think it worked out awesome for everybody involved to have Adam and Tiger play. As we said all along, they are still very good friends, and I think it's an exciting match.''

Personally, I don't believe him. As prestigious as the Presidents Cup may be, it could use a boost in TV ratings. Putting Woods, Williams and Scott in the same vicinity should do the trick.

However, those who tune in hoping to see fireworks are all but assured to be disappointed. Woods may be a fallen star, and Williams may be a disgruntled ex-employee who recently disparaged Tiger's skin color, but my presumption is that cooler heads will prevail. Those tuning in to see a fight will instead see golf being played.

If you must look forward to something more than that, I suppose it will be interesting to see if anybody cracks. Williams' presence could sap Woods of valuable focus, and Woods' presence could sap Williams of valuable focus. Poor Adam Scott could get stuck in the middle of it, calmly wondering why his caddie just handed him a putter with which to hit his tee shot.

Keep in mind that there will be a major golf tournament going on in the background. If we happen to get a Three Stooges moment, well, that will be just dandy.

If we get just golf and nothing else, that's fine, too.