Childhood friend picks up Tiger’s bag

For the past 13 years, Tiger Woods had a caddie who became a close friend. Now, at least for the moment, Woods is trying it the other way around.

Woods will return from an 11-week injury lay-off to competitive golf this week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with childhood friend Bryon Bell on the bag.

The 14-times major champion confirmed Bell will fill in after he dismissed New Zealander Steve Williams following a long and memorable run.

Williams, who now caddies for Australian Adam Scott, has made it clear that he was unhappy to the point of being hurt, talking about loyalty after he stuck with the former world No.1 through his sex scandal and long injury absences.

But Woods apparently is a big stickler for loyalty, too. And rather than choose an experienced tour caddie for his first full round of competitive golf since the Masters, he has chosen Bell, with whom he grew up and to whom he remains close.

Bell is president of Woods’ golf course design business – an operation that, like most everything else associated with Woods – has hit on hard times.

Proposed projects in Dubai, Mexico and North Carolina never have gotten done, for various reasons, notably the staggering world economy.

Given the upheaval in his life – divorce, new swing instructor, new swing, new management  company, a new and much leaner list of endorsements – Woods, now ranked No.28, wants someone with whom he feels comfortable.

Bell has caddied for Woods before, including the 2005 Funai Classic at Walt Disney World and Woods’ third consecutive US Amateur championship in 1996.

Bell also was linked to the scandal that shook Woods’ empire. Several news outlets released emails in 2009 and 2010 that reportedly were sent by Bell to women with whom Woods had affairs.