The feud between Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods finally had its first
apology on Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, the war of words between the rival
golfers had to get particularly ugly before it was made.
While attending the European Tour's Players' Awards dinner in London on
Tuesday evening, Garcia turned to a racial stereotype about African-Americans
while apparently attempting to make a joke about his contentious relationship
with Woods. As first reported by The Guardian, Garcia made the offensive remark
when jokingly asked by the event's emcee, Steve Sands of The Golf Channel, if
he would be inviting Woods over for dinner during the upcoming U.S. Open.
"We will have him round every night," García responded,
according to The Guardian. "We will serve fried chicken."
According to the Daily Mail, some guests were stunned by the racist
quip and an unnamed player described simply as "one leading Tour
professional," remarked to a journalist "You didn't hear that."
Of course, Ewan Murray of The Guardian did hear it. The Garcia-Sands
exchange quickly was picked up by various media outlets, including Sands' Golf
Channel and ESPN. A short while later, Garcia issued an apology via the
European Tour that was obtained by The Associated Press: "I apologize for
any offense that may have been caused by my comment on stage during the
European Tour Players' Awards dinner. I answered a question that was clearly made
towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment meant
in a racist manner."
The on-and-off rivalry heated up during the The Players Championship,
where the Spaniard accused Woods of distracting him while they paired during
the third round. Both golfers have traded barbs through the media since leaving
TPC Sawgrass.
"He called me a whiner. He's probably right," Garcia said on
Monday at an event in Wentworth, England, via Sports Illustrated. "But
that's also probably the first thing he's told you guys that's true in 15
years. I know what he's like. You guys are finding out."
The racially charged dig at Woods is reminiscent of a remark made by
golfer Fuzzy Zoeller in 1997. After Woods won the '97 Masters, Zoeller told
reporters to tell Woods not to serve fried chicken at the Champion's Dinner the
following year.
SCRIPTURES
DEUTERONOMY 28: 33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a
nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and
crushed alway: 34So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which
thou shalt see. 35The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with
a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of
thy head. 36The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over
thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there
shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone. 37And thou shalt become an
astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall
lead thee.
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