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STEVE Williams, caddy for the world's number one
sportsperson, Tiger Woods, was giving expert advice to 160 keen golfers competing in
the Kel Tremain Memorial Educational Trust Charity Tournament, held at the Napier
Golf Club at Waiohiki on Tuesday.
Coming from the New Zealand Golf Open to the Napier
Golf Club is a big difference but "the course is great", says Steve, whose most
helpful advice was to "look at the number on the ball and you will never miss it",
and "swing hard just in case you hit it!"
Steve has been caddying for 23 years with the past
four years for Tiger Woods. He spent his day at the seventh hole, giving hints and
tips when requested by "a wide range" of golfers playing the hole, both on the tee
and on the green.
You couldn't help bin be impressed with the ease in
which he interacted with each group that played the hole, regardless of ability or
age. One player in particular was sure he had the right club, a nine iron, in his
hand for his tee shot on the seventh. Steve convinced him to go to an. eight iron
saying "it's a long way, even my man (Tiger) would be using a nine". The result -
pin high, 12 feet to the right of the flag.
There was a cash prize of $5000 for a hole-in-one on
the seventh.
"I've done a lot of charity events and enjoy doing it
when it is for a good cause such as this one," says Steve.
With a somewhat witty charm Steve speaks of Tiger or
"my man" as he refers to him, with great respect and says he "treats me very well"
and is just like you and I.
"Tiger had a great time in New Zealand, he really
enjoyed himself and found Kiwis very friendly. He believed he played well but
struggled on the greens. There was a lot of rain in December, which would have made
it difficult for the greenkeeper to prepare the course. Tiger had more putts last
week than he ever has in a professional golf tournament and it's not like he was
playing bad, I mean he shot 65 in his last round in Hawaii before he came over
here," says Steve,
"Every time he sets a ball up people are expecting
him to win. and of course in golf you can't always do that. If you had to go through
what Tiger has to and still compete at the level he does, it's pretty impressive.
Not many people could handle what goes on around him day in and day out and perform
as well as he does,"
The Kel Tremain Memorial Educational Trust was set up
by the Taradale Rotary Club back in the 1970s and they gave their first grant in
1985. Since then $7000-$9000 per year has been granted to assist students who,
without help from the Trust, would otherwise have struggled to fulfil their
potential in tertiary education.
."This tournament will boost the Trust's funds
significantly." says Bob McCaw, chairman of the Kel Tremain Memorial Educational
Trust and member of the tournament organising committee.
"Kudos has to go to Kevyn Moore, convenor of the
organising committee, who, through another Rotarian, Bob Knappstein, organised
Steve for this event when he was here last year racing his car at the speedway."
"Dave Nichol, a member of the organising committee,
has also done a fantastic job in securing the sponsorship and prizes for the
tournament," says Bob.
Forty-one tables were booked for the evening dinner,
where Sieve Williams was guest speaker. Steve had several items of Tiger Woods
memorabilia which were auctioned during the evening.
"The auction
was
a huge success according to organising committee member and trustee Selwyn Dyet.
"A Nike cap worn by Tiger in the NZ Open went for
$5300 and a rugby ball signed by the Clarke brothers went for $5000.
The rugby ball was from a test match between the All Blacks and Springboks in the
1960s during which Don Clarke kicked a conversion to give the All Blacks a draw and
also drew them level in the series," says Selwyn.
Tiger's scorecard from the British Open which was
co-signed by the eventual winner David Duval went for $1530.
"All up the auction realised over $32,000 and the
whole event looks like earning the Trust in excess of $50,000,'' says Selwyn.
"Fully per cent of the proceeds from the Tiger Woods
memorabilia will go to the Trust with the remaining 50% going to the Steve Williams
Trust for junior golf in New Zealand."
"The whole event was a fantastic success and exceeded
all of our expectations," he said. |
