Steve Williams’ dish that opened the eyes of the Brooks Koepka-Tiger Woods comparison

Before Brooks Koepka won a major championship, Steve Williams, old caddie Tiger Woods, made an incredible comparison.

“Every once in a while, a player comes along who hits a golf ball the way it’s supposed to be hit. Strong, piercing, perfect trajectory,” Williams told Golf Digest in 2015. “Of the younger players out there, I’ve seen that special ball fly: Brooks Koepka.”

At that time, Adam Scott, an Australian, had Williams in his bag as his looper. Scott also won the Masters in 2013, and is one of the best players on the planet.

Of course, Williams was caddy for Woods during his prime, as he caddy for the major championships 15 times over more than a decade.

He knows good golf when he sees one.

“Adam and I were paired with him at the Open Championship last year, and since his first tee shot, I thought, this kid is special,” said Williams. “He’s looking to find other pieces of the puzzle, but I haven’t seen a ball fly like that since Tiger, and before that Johnny Miller.”

Golf experts call Woods one of the greatest players of all time. Players and pundits alike call him the greatest ball striker ever.

Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

There were similar sentiments about Miller, who won the 1973 US Open in Oakmont and the 1976 Open Championship in Royal Birkdale.

But for Williams to say this about Koepka, two years before he won his first major championship, making the old caddy look more like a prophet than a looper.

Since 2017, Koepka has won five major championships, the most of any player in that time. That includes captivating the crowd last weekend on his way to a third PGA Championship victory.

Moreover, only Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more majors since 1990.

Koepka arrived at Oak Hill on a mission, seeking his first major win since 2019. He played well in the 2023 Masters but collapsed on Sunday and finished four strokes behind Jon Rahm.

Nonetheless, there is no better player than Koepka at Rochester. He led the field in the 2023 PGA Championship in strokes earned overall. He also made 18 birdies, tying Poland’s Adrian Meronk for the most in the championship.

Koepka has leapt to legendary status with his latest win. He still has a ways to go before catching Woods, but Brooks Koepka can now claim the title of most decorated player of the post-Tiger era.