Sergio Garcia makes 'Fried Chicken' remark about Tiger Woods
By Larry
Hartstein | CBSSports.com
22 May 2013
Sergio Garcia said his silly remark was not "meant in a racist manner." (USATSI)
Sergio Garcia's spat with Tiger Woods went to another level Tuesday.
Asked in jest at the European Tour awards dinner in London whether he'd invite Woods over for dinner during next month's U.S. Open, Garcia replied, according to
The Guardian UK:
"We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken."
Garcia later apologized, issuing this statement: “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.”
Golf Channel's Steve Sands, who emceed the event, posed the question to Garcia. The Spaniard's response evoked Fuzzy Zoeller's 1997 remark after Woods won the Masters. By tradition, the Masters winner chooses the champions' dinner the next year.
"You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve,” Zoeller said then. He, too, apologized.
Woods and Garcia have been publicly feuding since The Players Championship, when Garcia blamed a poor shot on Woods causing an unnecessary distraction.
On Wednesday, Woods took to Twitter to respond to Garcia's comments:
@TigerWoods
The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate...
8:40 AM - 22 May 2013
@TigerWoods
I’m confident that there is real regret that the remark was made.
8:41 AM - 22 May 2013
@TigerWoods
The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.
8:42 AM - 22 May 2013
Garcia then formally apologized to Tiger during a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Per Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitch:
"My answer was totally stupid and out of place...I feel sick about it." -Sergio Garcia, now, apologizing to Tiger and others.
9:24 AM - 22 May 2013
No matter what Garcia meant with his comments, this will likely serve as yet another landmark in the ongoing spat between the two golfers.
Garcia's unfortunate choice of words also brought to mind Fuzzy Zoeller's offensive remarks after Woods won his first major back in 1997 at Augusta. Zoeller was quoted as saying of Woods' win, "You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."
The winner of the Masters traditionally chooses the champions' dinner menu for the following year's tournament. Zoeller later apologized.
While Woods and Garcia have more or less been rivals for more than a decade, more fuel was added to the fire earlier this month at the Players Championship.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
As he was getting ready to play his second shot, Garcia claimed that he was distracted by cheers for Woods, who was buried deep in the trees about 50 yards away.
Weeks later, Woods said that he wouldn't contact Garcia to try to smooth things out, and Garcia responded with some choice words:
“He called me a whiner. That’s probably right,” Garcia said to reporters. “It’s also probably the first thing he’s told you guys that’s true in 15 years. I know what he is like. You guys are finding out.”
There is clearly some history between these two, and as such, Garcia may not have intended for his most recent comment to be interpreted as racism. It could have just been a poorly-phrased joke towards a guy he seems to genuinely dislike.
Either way, you can rest assured that the duo won't be shaking hands anytime soon. Expect more fireworks if they are paired up on tour.
Golf:Sergio Makes Racist Tiger Comments-Woods Responds
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