Steve Williams Ends Speculation of Retirement

As posted by someone on the official Tiger Woods forum, long-time caddie of Tiger Woods, Steve Williams is not going anywhere anytime soon. The only reason I can think of for Stevie Williams to retire is his health.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailynews/4341655a6404.html

Williams scotches speculation

GRAIG JEFFREY - Taranaki | Tuesday, 01 January 2008

Caddie Steve Williams has scotched rumours he is set to retire from the international golfing stage and that his saloon car race series is to be canned.

At the Stratford Speedway on Sunday, Williams stated he has no intention of deserting world No 1 Tiger Woods in favour of retirement.

He also said it was premature for speedway commentators to say his Speedweek race series would end after seven years.

Williams said during the past year speculation had been rife in the American press about his future with Woods.

He said the rumour mill seemed to have gone into overdrive during this year's United States PGA Tour.

"Earlier in the year, I had two journalists approach me in my dressing room telling me they'd heard stories I was giving up golf to spend more time at home," he said.

"I don't know where they get this stuff from, I mean honestly, why would I give up a job, where I work 20 weeks of the year, work with one of the world's most elite sportsmen and go speedway racing on my time off?"

Williams said the possibility of Speedweek's demise had come about because of a clash with the inaugural national saloon car title, being held at Auckland's Waikaraka Park from January 10.

The sport's governing body, Speedway New Zealand, ratified the limited saloons championship status, following its annual meeting during the off-season.

"Now there is a national title on offer in the limited saloon class, it may not be possible to run Speedweek at the same time each year," Williams said.

"We may have to change the dates, but all the drivers, the participating tracks and the fans want Speedweek to continue."

Series organiser Carol Primmer said there had been nearly 30,000 hits on Speedweek's new website since the beginning of the series on Boxing Day.

In the racing itself, Williams took overall honours with a classy display.

He won two of his four races and was second in another.

Williams has now stretched his lead in the series to 11 points. He sits on 168 points, Mt Maunganui's Phil Towgood is second on 157 and seven-time Auckland champion Steve Louden is third on 142.

For Williams, a tight schedule gets even tighter as speedway racing heats up during the summer.

Following the completion of Speedweek in Rotorua tonight, Williams will compete in the inaugural saloon title at Waikaraka Park.

Then it is a long drive to Dunedin for the New Zealand Super Saloon championship a week later.