ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods' caddie Steve Williams has a reputation for defending the world's No. 1 golfer and it won't be any different whenever the embattled star returns to the course.
"Nothing changes," Williams told Australia's Sun-Herald newspaper. ''My job is to give him the best information I can and get him around in the fewest possible strokes.
''And as I have always pointed out, it is to try and give him a level playing field. Nothing will change from that aspect. I won't do anything differently. I won't view him any differently. I will do the utmost best to be as professional as I can.''
Woods apologized on Friday for his "irresponsible and selfish behavior" as he broke his long silence. He has been under the microscope ever since he crashed his SUV outside his home on Nov. 27. The accident came shortly after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that he was having an affair with Rachel Uchitel, a New York nightclub manager. After the first affair allegation, several more women stepped forward claiming to have engaged in sexual trysts with Woods, including former VH1 Tool Academy contestant Jaimee Grubbs and porn star Holly Sampson.
While the affair scandal has been a blow to the golfer's image, Williams believes the PGA star will be greeted warmly upon his return.
"I think when Tiger gets back to playing, people will be appreciative of the fact he is going to play," said Williams. "There are some cases where other people, not necessarily sports people, who lead a high-profile life have been in similar situations … and they haven't returned to [their] profession.
"There are always going to be people who are going to knock you ... Being the No. 1 player in the world and being as successful as Tiger has been, there have been people who have knocked him anyway. I am sure there might be a few more, it goes with the territory."
Woods did not provide a timetable for his return during Friday's news conference. He was to begin a second counseling stint on Saturday, reportedly at a sex rehab facility in Hattiesburg, Miss.
"As he pointed out in his statement, he has one more visit to the place where he is receiving his counseling," said Williams. "Then I would imagine his focus might change a little bit from then. Hopefully [it will be] his final visit, to the place he is receiving treatment, then his focus might turn a little back to his professional life, which is playing golf.
"After this visit I will talk with him about what his intentions are with golf. While he is receiving treatment and going through the healing process, I am not bothering him. When he plays is when he plays. There are more important things right now.''
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