Tiger Woods's former caddie Steve Williams has claimed that the way in which he was treated by the former world number one sometimes made him feel "like a slave".

Woods and Williams were reknowned for being a close-knit pair, and the 14-time Major champion was the best man at Williams's wedding in 2006.

However, in the New Zealander's autobiography, serialised in his home country over the weekend, he shines a spotlight on Woods's behaviour on and off the course and the way in which he treated his right-hand man.

"I was adamant that some of his behaviour on the course had to change," Williams wrote. "He was well known for his bad temper and, while that was not pleasant to witness, you could live with it because it ended as quickly as it started.

"But he had other bad habits that upset me. I wanted him to prove to me he could change his behaviour and show me‚ and the game of golf, more respect. One thing that really [got to me] was how he would flippantly toss a club in the general direction of the bag, expecting me to go over and pick it up.

"I felt uneasy about bending down to pick up his discarded club, it was like I was his slave. The other thing that disgusted me was his habit of spitting at the hole if he missed a putt."

Williams caddied for the 39-year-old from 1999 until 2011, during which time Woods won 13 Majors and was often the top-ranked golfer in the world.