The Sergio Garcia racism row took a bizarre twist today with European Tour CEO, George O’Grady now apologising for a racist remark when asked on SKY Sports TV his reaction to the affair involving Spain’s Sergio Garcia and the 14-time Major winning, Tiger Woods.
A day earlier, both O’Grady and PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem accepted Garcia’s unreserved apology following his ‘fried chicken’ comment during last Tuesday night’s gala European Tour ‘Players Award’ dinner.
However in speaking with SKY Sports during the first round of today’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, O’Grady sparked fresh anger referring to black Americans as ‘coloured’.
“It’s very unfortunate and we are in the middle of it, but we made a statement that both together with Commissioner Tim Finchem from the PGA Tour we spoke to Sergio and after what was really a very full and frank discussion on the whole issue that we’d accept his really heartfelt apology and we were convinced that he was trying to be funny – that it was a light-hearted remark,” said O’Grady in the live-to-air interview.
Having drawn a line under the Sergio Garcia, European Tour CEO George O’Grady is forced to apologise over a TV remark.
“We know the connotation in the United States. We accept all races on the European Tour, we take it very strongly. Most of Sergio’s friends are coloured athletes in the United States and he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it.
“There is no need for any further disciplinary action because it has gone so deep with him and all our players think the same way. We are aware of his arguments and his discussion with Tiger Woods which really quite frankly has no real place either, he accepts that.
“Tiger himself has made remarks. He’s said it’s time to get on and play golf and we want to get on with our flagship event which is set up so well this week.
“There’s absolutely no cosiness about this at all. We take it very seriously as does he. He has convinced us just how seriously he takes it and that’s why we’ve had to draw a line under this thing. Any hint of this sort of feeling has no place on the European Tour.
“All races play on the European Tour and that’s how we want to keep it. He is abject in his apology and we are moving on.”
The European Tour later issued a statement from O’Grady at around 4.15pm local time saying: “I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports for which I unreservedly apologise.”
O’Grady has been at the helm of the European Tour for eight years.
Despite the overcast and cold conditions, Garcia received a warm reception when he stepped onto the first tee at Wentworth.
