Race row caddie in clear as chiefs say Woods case closed
RACE row caddie Steve Williams has escaped sanction for his remarks about former world No1 Tiger Woods, despite world golf chiefs calling them “entirely unacceptable in whatever context”.
New Zealander Williams (inset), sacked by Woods in July after 13 years, told a caddies’ awards dinner on Friday that he relished his new employer Adam Scott’s victory over the American in August because he wanted “to shove it right up that black a***hole”.
The two heads of the world’s premier tours, the European Tour’s George O’Grady and Tim Finchem of the PGA, yesterday joined worldwide condemnation of the comments but said they regarded the matter closed following an apology from Williams.
“The International Federation of PGA Tours feels strongly there is no place for any form of racism in ours or any other sport,” they said in a joint statement. “We consider the remarks of Steve Williams, as reported, entirely unacceptable in whatever context. We are aware that he has apologised fully and we trust we will not hear such remarks again. Based on this, we consider the matter closed, and we will have no further comment.”
The statement is unlikely to placate anti-racism groups, who have called for Williams to be investigated.
Scott confirmed he would retain Williams for this week’s Australia Open, where, as fate would have it, they will cross paths with Woods.