Tiger Woods' legendary former caddie makes shock return at BMW Australian PGA

Tiger Woods’ legendary former caddie Steve Williams has made a shock return to life inside the ropes, teaming up with Australian Anthony Quayle for a two-week stint as the Northern Territorian begins his first swing of events as a DP World Tour member.

Williams, who turns 62 this weekend, remains one of the most iconic figures ever to shoulder a golf bag, having been on the bag for 13 of Woods’ 15 major titles and later guiding Adam Scott to victory at the 2013 Masters. 

Though Williams has largely stepped away from caddieing after four decades with players including Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch and Ray Floyd, the New Zealander is back in action this week at the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club, before heading to Royal Melbourne for next week’s Australian Open.

For Quayle, this isn’t just a high-profile partnership—it is the continuation of one of the feel-good stories from last season’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. The 31-year-old gave up status on the lucrative Japan Tour to chase one of three available DP World Tour cards on his home circuit. He then birdied the final hole of the Aussie season to clinch the third ticket. 

Now, with his DP World Tour membership officially beginning at Royal Queensland in Brisbane, Quayle has brought in one of the greats to help guide his transition.

“I’m just incredibly fortunate that Steve was willing to come and help me out,” Quayle told Australian Golf Digest. 

“It’s just a really cool experience. I think having somebody like Steve on your bag, you can’t help but feel you’ve maybe got a 15th club in the bag.

“There’s a fair bit of experience and golf IQ that comes along with his career. 

“I am just really excited about the next couple weeks.”

Tiger Woods' former long-time caddie Williams, who this year published a book Together We Roared, said he enjoys helping emerging players and believes Quayle has the ability to make his mark at the highest level.

“Anthony’s had a lot of experience and he’s got the great opportunity this year of playing on the DP World Tour,” Williams told Australian Golf Digest.

“It’s a first time experience for him and he’s got the talent and ability. If I can pass on any information that might assist him in his journey, it’s worth it. I don’t look at it from the results standpoint these two weeks, it’s about what he can get out of me and to encourage him to fulfil his potential.”

Aside from caddieing for Scott at the 2022 Australian PGA, Williams said his strongest memories of Royal Queensland were watching Norman practise there in the 1980s with the late Charlie Earp, the long-time head professional.

Quayle has already felt the impact of having one of golf’s sharpest minds in his corner.

“Probably the way we’ve approached the event,” Quayle said when asked what he had learned in two days. 

“I think it’s less time, more focus. Steve’s introduced me to preparing and keeping it fun and lighthearted but really engaged at the same time. I’m listening to some of the stories and the experience and trying to draw on a bit of that as well. For me, there is an educational aspect and an aspirational aspect to it.”

Quayle, a past winner of both the Queensland Open and Queensland PGA, now steps into one of the two Australian majors with a caddie who has literally been part of golf’s greatest stages.

The stakes only rise from here. Next week’s Australian Open, which will comprise of Rory McIlroy for the first time since 2014, will award the winner a place in the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, while the top three players not already exempt will secure starts in The Open.

Williams believes Quayle can compete at that level:

“Anthony’s got the game,” Williams said. 

“It’s the first time I’ve seen him play up close and that should he be fortunate enough to get a win at the Australian Open, he’s got the game to play at Augusta.

“Everybody next week will be excited. It just brings another level to the Australian Open. It’s a fantastic event in itself and if you look at that Stonehaven Cup through the years, and the great players who travelled the world and won the Australian Open, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus for example, and it was always considered along with the Canadian Open, outside of the majors, as one of the most important tournaments in golf.

“Now that the Augusta is inviting the winner to play the Masters, it just gives an added edge a bit more importance to it. So there’ll be a lot of on the line next Sunday afternoon.”

This year’s Australian PGA field adds even more intrigue, with Cameron Smith looking to rebound on home turf, and fellow LIV star Joaquin Niemann arriving off a five-win season. 

England’s Marco Penge, who pushed McIlroy all the way in the Race to Dubai, is also in the field as he prepares for his full PGA Tour debut in 2026.

But despite the star names, it’s hard to escape the week’s most fascinating storyline: Steve Williams, one of the most influential caddies in golf history, back inside the ropes, guiding a player beginning a new chapter and passing on the knowledge that shaped champions.