Tom English: ‘Clearly, Williams is even thicker than we could have imagined’

Steve Williams – always referred to as the “despicable” Steve Williams in these parts – has understandably been the focus of attention since uttering a racist comment while receiving a gong at a caddies’ awards soiree in Shanghai on Friday, a moment that revealed the New Zealander as not just a poisonous, bitter and sad man following the break-up of his 13-year partnership with Tiger Woods but also one who has the self-awareness of a bull in a china shop. If he thought that calling Woods a “black arsehole” was going to made his audience of caddies, players and tournament officials from around the world double-up with laughter then we have obviously underestimated the guy all these years. Clearly, he is even thicker than we could have imagined.

The annual caddies’ function is traditionally an off-the-record affair, meaning that journalists are invited so long as they agree that what goes on in the room, stays in the room, or in this case the Grand Ballroom of Le Meridien Hotel in Shanghai where the money-laden WGC-HSBC Champions tournament is taking place this week. The omerta might cover harmless japes and daft banter but there wasn’t a chance in hell that it would also include the suppression of Williams’ insult. At the gathering, his remark was met with widespread disbelief, an incredulity that, frankly, has only been added to in the hours since.

For instance, a spokesperson for the tournament reacted not by condemning Williams on behalf of the game and its sponsors while stressing that these kind of comments had no place in golf, but instead came out with a response that was by turns brainless and objectionable. “This was a private function,” was the official line. “There will not be any further comment on this matter.”

No further comment? Nothing left to be said, is that right? So anything goes at a private function? A racist remark doesn’t warrant further comment just because it was uttered at a bash where reporting restrictions were supposedly in place? It’s a disgraceful abrogation of responsibility, but it wasn’t the only one in this horrible business.

All eyes have been on Williams, who issued an apology via his website just as soon as he realised that his pathetic animosity towards Woods had just crossed the border from boorishness into bigotry. But the heat is also on Williams’s current employer, Adam Scott. And so far, Scott has reacted with a self-interest that is disturbing. He has placed the good of his game – Williams is unquestionably important to him on tour – ahead of all things. Scott has been criticised for not immediately sacking the New Zealander, but more than that, he stands accused of downplaying what went on in that ballroom.

“Steve issued a statement and apologised, he did the right thing,” said Scott, whose sense of forgiveness might be admirable if the subject matter wasn’t so toxic. “That’s all there is to say about that from my side of things,” he added. “It’s not an issue for me. I think everything in that room last night was all in good spirits and a bit of fun and I think it probably got taken out of that room in the wrong context.”

In good spirits? A bit of fun? Not an issue? That’s a one-eyed take on events and it’s an interpretation that is not only an insult and damaging to the game but, it seems, is at odds with many, many others who were present. “It’s been dealt with as far as I’m concerned,” said Scott. “I thought it was all in jest, that’s how the whole evening was, everything was quite amusing.”

Everything, Adam? Calling somebody a “black arsehole” is funny. Funny how?

The Australian has gauged the mood of this thing with all the blurred vision of the bloke who carries his bag. Scott was talking after completing his third round in Shanghai, a 69 that featured a birdie-birdie-eagle finish that leaves him three shots off the lead. “It [the Williams saga] didn’t distract me too badly in the end,” he said.

A window to his soul, perhaps. How reassuring that his golf game wasn’t disturbed by such an inconvenience.