The Tiger Woods-Sergio García golf "beef" took another strange turn, with European PGA Tour chief executive George O'Grady now having to apologize for his own insensitive remarks.
"I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports for which I unreservedly apologize," O'Grady said.
O'Grady tripped over his own words while doing an interview with Sky Sports, trying to defend García, who made racially insensitive remarks aimed at Woods, days after a spat on the golf course during the Players Championship tournament at TPC Sawgrass.
"We know the connotation in the United States," said O'Grady, in reference to García's comments. "We accept all races on the European Tour; we take it very strongly. Most of Sergio's friends are colored athletes in the United States."
García's mouth got him in trouble Tuesday night, at the European Tour awards dinner, when he joked with reporters that he would have Woods over for dinner, during the U.S. Open. "We'll have him round every night," Garcia replied. "We will serve fried chicken," said a snarky Garcia in front of a throng of cameras.
While García has since apologize and faces no sanctions from PGA European tour officials, the Spanish golfer may still face financial consequences, with his biggest sponsor, for his careless choice of words.
"Sergio's recent comment was offensive and in no way aligns with TaylorMade-adidas Golf's values and corporate culture," said TaylorMade-adidas, in a statement. "We discussed with him that his comments are clearly out of bounds. We are continuing to review the matter."
Woods took to Twitter to condemn García's remarks, calling them "wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate."
Though Woods and García have never really gotten along throughout their careers, things came to ahead at TPC Sawgrass when García called out Woods for distracting him during the par-5 second hole of the Players Championship, causing a stir in the gallery as the Spaniard was attempting a shot elsewhere on the course.
Former European Ryder Cup captain, José María Olazábal is urging both golfers to settle their differences and get back to focusing on golf.
"I'm close to Sergio and to Tiger and I don't know what happened for them to drift apart," Olazábal told Reuters in an interview at the PGA Championship at Wentworth. "I know people are trying to make a big thing out of it but we are grown men, we can handle things and I'm pretty sure in time everything will settle down, they will shake hands and be friends again."
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