Tiger Woods fires his caddie of 12 years

While Woods thanked his former caddie for his work while Williams said he was shocked and "very disappointed" by the decision to part company.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," Woods said on his website. "Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future."

Woods did not say who would replace Williams or when he would return to golf.

Williams posted a statement on his website confirming he had been fired.

"Needless to say this came as a shock," Williams said. "Given the circumstances of the past 18 months working through Tiger's scandal, a new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries, I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time."

Williams, who previously worked for Raymond Floyd and Greg Norman, had worked the past three tournaments with Adam Scott. That included the last two majors, which Woods skipped while trying to recover from injuries to his left leg.

When asked over the weekend at The Open if he was still working for Woods, Williams grinned and said: "Why would you ask a question like that?" He never answered the question, but gave no indication that he would not caddie for Woods when he did return. Williams said he would continue working for Scott.

More than a caddie, Woods and Williams had been close friends. Both got engaged while on safari after The Presidents Cup in South Africa, and they were in each other's weddings. Woods played the New Zealand Open and even took part in Williams's other job as a race car driver.

The relationship began showing signs of strain after Woods crashed his car on Thanksgiving night, followed by stunning revelations of multiple extramarital affairs that led to Woods getting divorced. Woods's ex-wife and Williams's wife were close friends.

In recent months, Williams was feeling out of touch during Woods's rehabilitation. He was not aware that Woods did not plan to compete in the US Open until after flying to the States from New Zealand, where Williams lives most of the year.

Williams has been labelled a bully over the years while working for Woods amid a constant circus, once tossing a camera into the pond at a skins game when the photographer snapped a picture in the middle of Woods's swing on the last hole; another time taking the camera from a fan at the 2004 US Open that belonged to an off-duty policeman.

He also brought Woods undue attention towards the end of 2008 by making disparaging remarks about Phil Mickelson during a charity dinner in New Zealand, then repeating them when a reporter called for comment the following day.

The only caddies Woods has used in his 14-year career on the PGA Tour are Mike "Fluff" Cowan and Williams. His childhood friend, Byron Bell, caddied for Woods when he won the Buick Invitational in 1999 and 2000, and Billy Foster caddied for Woods at the Presidents Cup in 2005 when Williams was home for the birth of his son. Foster now works for Lee Westwood.Woods, who had been with Williams since March 1999, added that he has not yet decided on a replacement as he continues his recovery from the injuries to his left leg and has not made a decision on when to return to the PGA Tour.

The 35-year-old has slipped to 20th in the world during his period of inactivity and has not won a tournament since the Australian Masters in November 2009, just before problems in his private life came to light.

Woods had been out of action for two months prior to The Open before he finally conceded he would not be able to compete at Royal St George's.

Just before the tournament, he announced on his website: "As I stated (previously], I am only going to come back when I'm 100 per cent ready. I do not want to risk further injury.

"I'm very disappointed and want to express my regrets to the British Open fans.

"In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have competed at the Players, but it's a big event and I wanted to be there to support the Tour.

"I've got to learn from what I did there and do it right this time and not come back until I'm ready."