British Open: Will there be a Tiger Woods-Stevie Williams reunion?

For those of us seeking intrigue in our lives, a quick look at the early leaderboard in the British Open Thursday was fodder for soap operas.

Leading at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, with lots of players still on the course, was Adam Scott at six under par. Not far down the leaderboard was Tiger Woods at three under.

With a twist here and a turn there, we could wind up with a final pairing Sunday of Scott and Tiger. Or, more to the point, a final pairing of Scott and his caddy, Stevie Williams, and Woods.

Williams, of course, used to be Tiger’s caddy and was his No. 1 defender and sergeant-at-arms. Heaven forbid a photographer snap a shot in Tiger’s backswing, because Stevie would come hunting and acquire the camera. Yes, that actually happened.

But then, in the aftermath of Woods’ personal and professional upheaval that began in late 2008, Williams and Woods parted ways and Williams made several cryptic public statements about Woods that would lead us to conclude that they don’t have dinner together a lot these days.

Williams took up with Scott and Woods hired Joe LaCava and, most often, never the twain meet.

But when Woods put himself in contention while Scott was going to the top of the pack, the possibility of a chilly Tiger-Stevie reunion could not be overlooked. Several writers for English tabloid newspapers were seen wiping drool from their chin.

Woods went out in four under, firing everything at the pin and saying it was an unusual day for a British Open round.

“The wind wasn’t blowing,” he said, “and we were backing the golf ball up.”

On the back nine, he gave back a stroke with a one-over 37 and finished with 67.

“I’m very pleased with what I did today,” Woods said. “I only hit one putt off line.”

Stevie Williams was unavailable for comment.

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