The golfing world was left reeling yesterday after caddie Steve Williams made a racist remark about his former boss Tiger Woods at an awards dinner.
New Zealander Williams called Woods a “black arsehole” during the annual caddies’ awards at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
He made the extraordinary outburst when asked about his controversial celebrations following a victory by his new employer, Australian Adam Scott, at the Bridgestone Invitational in August.
Photo: AFP
Williams, who was sacked by Woods in July after being at the former world No. 1’s side for 13 of his 14 major championship titles, described Scott’s victory as the “best win of my career.”
Addressing the room after being handed a tongue-in cheek “celebration of the year” gong, Williams, 47, shocked players, fellow caddies and sponsors by saying: “It was my aim to shove it right up that black arsehole.”
Williams later issued an apology on his kiwicaddy.co.nz Web site.
“I apologise for comments I made last night,” he said in the statement.
“I now realise how my comments could be construed as -racist. However I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologise to Tiger and anyone else I have offended.”
Nevertheless there were calls in the British media for Williams to be sacked by world No. 8 Scott and thrown out of the game.
Scott was among a clutch of top 10 players, including Rory McIlroy, among the 100-strong audience listening to Williams’ comments in the banquet hall.
Scott, 31, teed off yesterday with Williams at his side as the storm around his caddy’s comments gathered strength and moved up to joint first with Swede Freddie Jacobson on 12-under during the first nine of the third round.
Officials at the WGC-HSBC Champions, Asia’s flagship event sanctioned by the PGA and European tours, were said to be -embarrassed by Williams’ slur, but were keeping silent on the scandal.
“It was a private function and we will not be making any further comment,” said a press officer from HSBC, the tournament sponsor.
The sanctioning tours refused to make an official comment.
However, a source from one of the tours said: “It’s going to be difficult for Adam Scott if sponsors think he has a racist carrying his bag.”
Williams is known for his outspokenness and gruff personality. Previously, at another private function, he called Phil Mickelson a “right prick,” and he has made a series of backbiting remarks about Woods since their split.
He made an estimated US$3 million during his career with Woods and remained loyal during the legend’s notorious sex scandal.
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
When Wang Tao ran away from home aged 17 to become a professional wrestler, he knew it would be a hard slog to succeed in China’s passionate but underdeveloped scene. Years later, he has endured family disapproval, countless side gigs and thousands of hours of brutal training to become China’s “Belt and Road Champion” — but the struggle is far from over. Despite a promising potential domestic market, the Chinese pro wrestling community has been battling for recognition and financial stability for decades. “I have done all kinds of jobs [on the side]... Because in the end, it is very
No team in the CPBL can surpass the Taipei Dome attendance record set by the CTBC Brothers, except when the Brothers team up with Taiwanese rock band Mayday. A record-high 40,000 fans turned out at the indoor baseball venue on Saturday for Brothers veteran Chou Szu-chi’s first farewell game, which was followed by a mini post-game concert featuring Mayday. This broke the previous CPBL record of 34,506 set by the Brothers in early last month, when K-pop singer Hyuna performed after the game, and the dome’s overall record of 37,890 set in early March, which featured the Brothers and the
With a quivering finger, England Subbuteo veteran Rudi Peterschinigg conceded the free-kick that sent his country’s World Cup quarter-final into extra-time before smashing his plastic goalkeeper on the floor in frustration. In the genteel southern English town of Tunbridge Wells, 300 elite players have gathered to play the game they love. “I won’t say this is the best weekend I’ve ever had in my life, but it’s certainly in the top two,” said Hughie Best, 58, who flew in from Perth, Australia, to compete and commentate at the event. Tunbridge Wells is the “spiritual home” of Subbuteo, which was invented there in 1946