Adam Scott is confident the return of Steve Williams as his caddie will be the “spark” that takes him back towards the pinnacle of world golf.
Scott, now world No.12, was clearly delighted today that the champion New Zealand caddie had broken his “retirement” to return for a four-tournament swing taking in this week’s US Open, the remaining two major championships and WGC Bridgestone in August.
“Obviously he brings something out in me,” Scott said of the man whom he credits as a key to his 2013 Masters triumph and his rise to world No.1 in the three years before Williams `retired’ last season.
“The last few years has been really positive. We have worked so well together and I think he is excited as well to come out and do these majors and a (WGC) event.
“Hopefully the old spark lights up again (because I’m) just trying to get something going. I have just struggled with that this year and I think this will help.”
Scott laughed but agreed when asked if the reunion felt like pulling on an old pair of comfortable jeans.
“It is a bit, absolutely.
“We have spent three or so years playing with him at a really high level and enjoying that energy.
“It is tough to maintain that – there is a lot of strain and pressure doing that – and there has been a bit of a letdown on my side the last six months from that and this is the thing to get me back up there.
“We have a great record together, certainly in the big events over the last few years. So when I was not with a caddie now I think it was a good call to make on my part.”
Arguably the world’s greatest caddie, the New Zealander revealed he’s ready to play his part in re-establishing Scott to his major championship form.
“Absolutely, I wouldn’t be here otherwise,” said the 51-year-old veteran of 14 major championship victories.
But as prepared as he is, Williams said it wasn’t a fait accompli that he would take up Scott’s offer, despite the pair finishing top 15 in 13 of their 16 major championships together.
Asked whether it was good to be back in the fray, Williams was clearly torn.
“I don’t know. It’s a hard question to answer,” he said with a coy giggle.
“I’ve absolutely 100 per cent enjoyed not being a caddie — just having a normal routine.
“When you’ve been out here as long as I have, you don’t miss that.
“But look, if you had an option to come back and work a few tournaments, it’s a pretty good four to work.
“This is a fantastic place (and) St Andrews – there’s no better place than that in golf.”
Williams wouldn’t be drawn on what Scott needed to arrest his slide from No.1 to No.12 in less than a year, saying he was blissfully and “totally unaware” of the golfing world since he quit.
“I don’t follow golf. I never have, even when I was caddying (full time) I didn’t follow it,” he said.
Williams said he and Scott had stayed in touch since he left the tour, but that the call to return gave him mixed emotions.
“It probably wasn’t an easy a decision as it looked,” he said.
“We’ve just finished race season, so now it was time to devote my time to my son’s (nine-year-old Jett) rugby team in which I’m involved with coaching.
“So I had to weight that up, too. It wasn’t just an immediate yes, I’m going to go back caddying. I had to give it considerable thought.”
Asked whether he’d had a good season dedicated to his passion of motor sport, the typical Williams grin returned.
“It was good, yeah — it beats walking around a golf course.”
Scott and Williams’ replacement Mike Kerr went their separate ways last month after a relatively fruitless 2015 campaign to date.