Tiger Woods' ex-caddie Steve Williams upset at sacking

Caddie Steve Williams says he has "wasted two years" after Tiger Woods ended their 12-year partnership.

The New Zealander, who carried Woods' bag for 13 of his 14 major wins, joined the former world number one in 1999.

After being ditched, he told Television New Zealand: "You could say I've wasted the last two years of my life.

"I've stuck with Tiger and been incredibly loyal. I'm not disappointed I've been fired - that's part of the job - but the timing is extraordinary."

Williams, 47, caddied for Australian Adam Scott at last week's Open Championship and the preceding major, the US Open, after Woods withdrew with ongoing injuries.

"I am extremely disappointed, given that the last 18 months has been a particularly difficult time," Williams continued.

"With the scandals, a new coach, a swing change, I've stuck with him through thick and thin and been incredibly loyal - and then this happens.

"I wouldn't ditch someone when the chips are down. I've stuck by Tiger and put myself and my family in a difficult position.

"I'm a very big stickler for loyalty and I stuck with Tiger through his difficult period when a lot of people thought I should have left his side.

"That was the most difficult period that I've ever been through in my life.

"I'm pretty hard headed and took it probably a lot better than my wife and family did, but there's no way that I should have been put through that.

"My name should have been cleared immediately. It wasn't and that's what makes it even more disappointing what's transpired.

"I, along with a lot of people, lost a lot of respect for Tiger [over his extra-marital affairs] and I pointed out before his return at the Masters at Augusta in 2010 that he had to earn back my respect.

"Through time I hope he can gain my respect back. He definitely needs to earn my respect again, that's for sure.

Woods took five months away from golf in 2009/10 after his much-publicised marital problems but returned for the 2010 Masters.

He had Achilles trouble in late 2010 and then suffered a sprained left knee and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon after hitting out of the pine straw at this year's Masters.

Although he returned for the Players Championship at Sawgrass, Woods - who has not won a tournament since the Australian Masters in November 2009 - played only nine holes and dropped six strokes in the process before he withdrew from the event.