Chief executive of the European Tour, George O'Grady has apologised for remarks which he made on Sky Sports earlier today.
O'Grady was attempting to explain the tour's acceptance of Sergio Garcia's apology for his "fried chicken" remark about Tiger Woods at the European Tour awards night on Tuesday when used some racially insensitive words of his own.
There's absolutely no cosiness about this at all. We take this very seriously as does he. He's 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 feeling has no place on the European Tour, all races play on the European Tour and that's how we're going to keep it. That's how we want to be.
Most of Sergio's friends happen to be coloured athletes in the United States, he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it.
He later issued an apology for using the term "coloured athletes", saying:
I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports, for which I unreservedly apologise.
Video of O'Grady's remarks below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wzVRVgtRdo4
Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE H/T Conor Meany for the video
