For years, Steve Williams carried Tiger Woods’ bag through some of the most dominant stretches in golf history, witnessing firsthand the relentless, almost robotic pursuit of victory that defined Woods’ career. But after Woods fired him in 2011, Williams took on a new role as Adam Scott’s caddie where he quickly realized just how different winning could feel.

When Scott won the 2013 Masters, becoming the first Australian to win at Augusta, Williams experienced something he rarely did with Woods – a true celebration.

Steve Williams caddied for Tiger Woods from 1999 to 2011. (Image: Getty Images)

With Tiger, every week was about one thing: winning. And if he didn’t? The pressure just mounted for the next tournament. Williams has often spoken about how Woods never allowed himself to enjoy victories because he was too focused on the next goal.

Even after Woods’ historic 15-stroke win at the 2000 U.S. Open, one of the most dominant performances in golf history, his mind was already on the next challenge.

“One of the very next things he said to me after signing his card was: ‘Steve, you need to get your ass across the water and get all the details from St Andrews so I can win there as well,’” Williams recalled on the latest episode of ‘The Dom Harvey Podcast.’

That relentless mindset, as legendary as it was, often left little room for celebration. When Woods won, it wasn’t an achievement to be savored – it was simply confirmation that he had done what he was supposed to do.

Williams, who worked with other intense competitors like Greg Norman and Raymond Floyd, said Tiger took that mindset to another level, making every tournament feel like life or death. After more than a decade of working under that pressure, Williams’ departure from Woods’ team brought a dramatic shift in his experience as a caddie.

Scott, by contrast, was far more laid-back.

Williams caddied for Adam Scott after Woods ( Image: Getty Images)

“With Adam, he wanted to do well, but it wasn’t the end of the world if he didn’t,” Williams said. And when Scott finally broke through at Augusta, their reaction was completely different from anything Williams had experienced before.

“When Adam won the Masters, we had a great celebration,” he said. “With Tiger, that was never happening.”

Yet, despite the way things ended, Williams remains one of the people most confident that Woods can still win another major. Asked whether Tiger’s latest injuries might mean the end of his career, Williams dismissed the idea outright: “No chance.”

It’s a fascinating contrast – the man who once admitted to feeling exhausted by Woods’ intensity now believes that same mindset will push him to another title.

And maybe that’s the key difference. For Scott, winning the Masters was the culmination of years of hard work and a moment to cherish forever. For Woods, winning majors was just the expectation. If he finds a way to win another one, don’t expect him to bask in the moment – he’ll probably just be thinking about the next one.