George O’Grady sorry for ‘coloured’ gaffe

In trying to defend Garcia over his perceived racist remark towards world No 1 Tiger Woods earlier in the week, the genial Irishman ended up putting himself in the firing line as well after using an inappropriate term in a live interview with Sky Sports.

“Most of Sergio’s friends are coloured athletes in the United States and he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it,” said O’Grady, who later said “sorry” himself for using “coloured”, a word that is considered antiquated and offensive.

In a statement released by the Tour’s communications department, which has certainly been hard worked this week, O’Grady said: “I deeply regret using an  inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports, for which I unreservedly apologise.”

What had started as a marvellous celebration of Europe’s memorable Ryder Cup win in Chicago last year – all 12 players from the Medinah match along with captain Jose Maria Olazabal were runited earlier in the week – has descended into farce.

Garcia’s “stupid” comment about cooking “fried chicken” for Woods as a spat between the pair escalated, led to the Spaniard apologising to the world No 1 as well as O’Grady and Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the PGA Tour.

Already facing criticism for not taking any action against

Garcia and allowing him to play in this week’s £4 million event in Surrey, the knives were quickly out for O’Grady over his slip of the tongue yesterday.

“We know the connotation in the United States,” he also said of Garcia’s remark in the interview with Sky Sports. “We accept all races on the European Tour, we take it very strongly.

“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.”

It would surely be preposterous for O’Grady to be vilified in the way Garcia will be for a considerable time, although there was little sign on his first competitive outing since the furore being sparked of the 33-year-old having turned himself into golf’s Public Enemy No 1.

He received a warm reception on the first tee in the company of back-to-back winner Luke Donald before raising the biggest cheer of the day with an eagle-3 at the last for an opening level-par 72.

After signing for his card, Garcia said it was “unfortunate” that O’Grady had been drawn into the spat. He also revealed he had not yet managed to speak to Woods but will try to talk to him “face to face” at next month’s US Open at Merion.

On his reception, Garcia commented: “It’s been a tough week but I felt the warmth of the people out there. They were very supportive and that helped a lot. I feel people support me wherever I go and that is really nice.”

It remains to be seen if the Ryder Cup player will be able to save his £5 million-a-year sponsorship deal with TaylorMade.

While Garcia was pleased with his day’s work, Donald’s hopes of becoming only the second player after Colin Montgomerie to win the event three years in a row are already slim after a six-over 78.