Racist remark from Woods' ex-caddy drops jaws

(AP) 

SHANGHAI -- Tiger Woods' former caddie has caused another sensation, this time by using a racial slur to disparage his old boss during a caddies award roast in Shanghai.

Steve Williams received a mock award Friday night for "Celebration of the Year" for his TV interview after Adam Scott won the Bridgestone Invitational.

That was the day Williams said it was "the best win of his life," despite being on the bag with Woods for 13 majors.

At an awards party filled with banter, Williams said of his interview, "It was my aim to shove it right up that black a———."

That line drew the biggest reaction at a party attended by several players, caddies, officials and some media. There was a mixture of laughter and shock, with some players turning to each other with eyes widened and jaws agape.

The provision of the party is that all comments are off the record, yet several caddies couldn't stop talking about it long after it was over.

Approached early the next morning at breakfast, Williams was stunned to learn that British tabloids had gone with the story.

"Why would they do that?" he said. "The whole thing was meant to be fun."

Hours later, Williams posted a comment on his website.

"I apologize for comments I made last night at the Annual Caddy Awards dinner in Shanghai," it said. "Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year, and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realize how my comments could be construed as racist. However, I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to Tiger and anyone else I've offended."

Woods was in Australia, though it didn't take long for the comments to get back to him.

"I was with Tiger last night when he heard the news," Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports Management, told The Associated Press. "We got multiple calls from people who sounded like they were leaving the caddie party. Tiger obviously wasn't there. He doesn't know exactly what was said. But if multiple reports — which all seem to be accurate — are true, then it's sad it's come down to this."

"It's a regrettable comment, and there's really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He's just going to move on."

Scott said he was satisfied with Williams' apology and that his comments were not reported in the right spirit of the evening. When asked if Williams should be fired, Scott said, "I disagree with that."

"Everything in that room last night was all in good spirits and a bit of fun, probably taken out of that room in the wrong context," Scott said after a 69 kept him within three shots of the lead at the HSBC Champions.

"Look, anything with Tiger involved is a story. I value Steve's contributions to my game and having him on the bag."

Scott also said it was foolish to suggest Williams was racist.

"We all know that's not the case," he said.

It's not the first time Williams has gotten into trouble for his words.

Three years ago at a dinner banquet in New Zealand, he made a disparaging remark about Phil Mickelson. Williams said that was meant in fun, though Woods had him apologize to Mickelson.

The comments in Shanghai took on an even more sensitive nature among the British press because of footballer John Terry's alleged racial comments toward Anton Ferdinand during Chelsea's 1-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers in a Premier League loss last month.

Even though Williams said his comments were meant in fun to match the spirit of the evening, there was no disguising the animosity Williams feels over getting fired this summer.

What made Williams' reaction at Firestone so pointed is that it was the first time Woods and Scott were in the same tournament since Williams had been fired — and it was Scott's first win of the year.

Williams has disputed Woods' version of how their partnership ended, and he said at Firestone that he was short-shrifted by Woods despite his loyalty to the former No. 1 player during the sex scandal that derailed his career.

These comments also put Scott in the middle of another mess, and it doesn't figure to go away soon.

Woods and Scott are to be in the same group next week at the Australian Open, and there's a chance they also could face off at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne the week after.

Scott said he was simply in the middle of two people who apparently don't like each other.

"Shall I gave Steve a rough over the knuckles? He issued a statement. I think that's the right thing to do," Scott said. "What more should he say? What more can I say? He's apologized, and he's done the right thing."

[jmach6677]

So now the word "black" is a racist slur? To be perfectly honest it sounds like to me that the black race doesn't like being reminded that their black...sorry.

[babawawa6]

Tiger's ass is black (brown really), but Williams' ass is fired and much poorer.

Williams would probably love to be holding the bag beside that brown Woods ass and drawing his old fat-ass check....

Get over it Williams! You made a dumb decision and it cost you....

[hf3210]

There is no denying that this oomment of Steve Williams is racist, indecent and spiteful. Tiger may not be a popular figure (may be a target of mockery) at present and Steve was thinking he would say it as a joke when Tiger was not in the room, but it was just bad the way he said it. I am glad Steve issued his apology quickly.

[Montana5]

Adam Scott is apparently not too much brighter than his new caddy....the comment was taken "out of context"? Sorry Adam, Tiger might be jerk but there is no proper context that would make the comment acceptable.

[explodingworms]

help me out here people. Tiger Woods is considered to be a black athlete. Not true, but accepted. If I am not mistaken, as a black man, he would therefore have a black ass. Where is that racist?
leave it to the media to make a mountain out of a pimple. That way, you can ignore the stuff that matters - troops dying, government lying, babies crying. etc..
Rightiesarewrong - you do not play golf. And certainly not at the professional level. Almost to the player ( men and women) they will say they could not win without the cddie. Except Tiger Woods. Guess he won all those Majors without Steve's help. Let's see how many he wins without him.

[ReckonedTruth]

Tell me when have you ever heard of any notable figure referring to a white professional sport star as a WHITE a&& or white anything? NEVER! I rest my case.

The fact is this nation takes a personal effort to disrespect black males even the president(tea party)..simply because and for no other reason.. the idea is simply racist to speak of the another race other than your race in demeaning terms and issued a pass as acceptable..because this nation has been doing this since plymouth..and ITS not and never will be OK, period! Its PURE unadulterated race based ignorance.

[esq777]

Since when does anyone care what a "caddy" thinks or says? This guy would be saying "do you want fries with that" if it wasn't for Tiger Woods. He should be grateful and shut up.

[sweetcakesmaria]

Williams should have learned early on in life that if you don't have something nice to say about someone, keep your mouth shut and don't say anything. How many people can truthfully say that they knew of Williams before he was hired by Tiger. He became a multi-millionaire and a household name for doing nothing more than carrying Woods bag. He should be very appreciative of the life style he and his family is now living because of Woods accomplishments. Woods is the last person that he should make negative remarks about even if he is bitter about getting terminated.

[marine1957]

Personally, I think the caddy's comment was quite in-line with Wood's illicit behavior with all of those ****** when he was married with children.

[AmericasConscious]

The comment was totally inappropriate.
He should have said
'it was his aim to shove it up right his jaundiced a___"'
Tiger is a pompous jerk and everyone who's been around him knows it.

[erasmus111]

He may be a pompous jerk but there is no call for racist comments.

He said what he said, and that makes him a racist. He can say whatever, but it doesn't change that fact.

[taylorsucram]

I'm sure that "Stevie" has taken a major pay cut since he's not Tigers caddy any more. But there's no point in HATING, money comes and money goes. Adjust your lifestyle Stevie!