Master caddie Steve Williams’ tight connection with Australian golf finally reaped the reward of a major championship when the veteran Kiwi bagman helped steer Adam Scott to his historic Masters win.

The man who was part of 13 major titles on the bag of American Tiger Woods caught up with his former employer as he added a 14th on Monday (AEST) when Scott became the first Australian to triumph at Augusta National.

Scott later praised Williams, 49, for his guidance on the winning birdie putt on the second play-off hole to beat Argentina’s Angel Cabrera in darkening conditions.

“I don’t get him to read too many putts,” Scott said.

“He said it’s at least two cups, it’s going to break more than you think. I said, ‘I’m good with that.’ He was my eyes on that putt. It managed to hang in. Amazing feeling.”

It was a moment which meant the world to Williams.

“The winning putt might be the highlight putt of my career,” Williams said.

“Because he asked me to read it.”

Williams’ fourth win at Augusta will be special because of his long association with Australian players, which started at the age of 12 when his father linked him with Australian great Peter Thomson at the 1976 New Zealand Open and included a successful period with Greg Norman.

Norman said the pair became too close in 1989 so he ended the relationship. He later said that decision was a mistake.

After nearly a decade with American Raymond Floyd, Williams began his stint with Woods in 1999.

The pair were close away from the course before Woods announced an abrupt parting of ways during the exposure of his private life midway through 2011.

Williams most-publicised moment with Scott came after they won that year’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

In an interview, the Aucklander said “I’ve caddied for 33 years – 145 wins now – and that’s the best win I’ve ever had”.

He later expressed regret for the remark, saying anger over the Woods bust-up had boiled over.