Sergio Garcia Doesn’t Deserve a Pass for Racial Comments About Tiger Woods

Sergio Garcia Doesn’t Deserve a Pass for Racial Comments About Tiger Woods
Racially Charged Comments Muddy Already Murky Waters











Chris Chaney May 22, 2013 10:47 AM




COMMENTARY | The latest punch thrown in the Sergio Garcia-Tiger Woods feud was levied Tuesday night by the Spaniard at the European Tour's Players' Award dinner. And when the dust settled, it was Garcia who came out bloodied and rightful
ly so.



On stage along with his European Ryder Cup teammates, Garcia was asked by event co-host Steve Sands, tongue firmly in cheek, whether he would have Tiger Woods over during US Open week to break bread, making light of their recent public spat.

Garcia answered, "We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken."

The racial undertones of Garcia's comments do not need to be rehashed. The familiarity in the golfing community with the fried chicken barb goes back to the 1997 Masters when Fuzzy Zoeller made a similar comment about Woods, referencing the dinner menu the soon-to-be youngest Masters champion would serve the following year at the Champion's Dinner.

"He's doing everything it takes to win," Zoeller said when asked about Woods' play. "So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations, enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year."

The comment was shocking and off-putting in 1997 and following the backlash, Zoeller wasn't heard from much again, his reputation tarnished and legacy usurped by one off-handed comment.

16 years later, Garcia's comment comes with a similar, if not more surprising, sting. More surprising in the sense that we like to think with each passing day, racism is dying. More surprising in the sense that on a public level, personal prejudices shouldn't be levied through jokes. More surprising in the sense that someone as media-aware as Garcia would make such an off-color comment.



However, what we like to think is happening and what is actually taking place in the world are far different things. Garcia's comments prove that.

What's even more troubling is that for a racially charged comment to make its way into the public sphere, the likelihood is greater that Garcia has said or thought them in his private life, thus debunking any progress that is thought to have been made.

Garcia's public relations machine jumped into high gear following the comments, releasing an apology that read, "I apologize for any offence 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."

Woods, who is no stranger to racial injustice, responded with a string of tweets, not quite exonerating Garcia, but making his feelings known with an eye towards moving on.

Said Woods, "The comment that was made wasn't silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate. I'm confident that there is real regret that the remark was made. The Players (Championship) ended nearly two weeks ago and it's long past time to move on and talk about golf."

Garcia met with the media Wednesday morning, sheepishly taking the stand looking like a dog that had just soiled the carpet, apologizing profusely. He said he had talked with the commissioners of both the PGA and European Tours and felt as if they had accepted his apology.

He also said he plans to talk to Tiger directly to apologize for his comments, but calls to Woods' agent had not yet been returned.

The problem is that our culture is too quick to move on from the real problems that present themselves, especially taboo topics such as racism. The predominant thought is that racism has no place anywhere and from a PR standpoint, golf is the last business that wants to furl itself into a racial dispute given the game's poor track record in that arena.

More than likely, Woods will let the comments wash off his back; he has bigger fish to fry. If he were going to be impacted negatively by any ignoramus with a derogatory comment to make, he wouldn't be in search of his 15th major championship and on track to become the greatest player of all time. Likelier still, Woods will use Garcia's words as some kind of motivation, pushing him to even higher heights.

For those reason and many more, Garcia does not deserve a pass on this. He needs to be held accountable for his actions and words. What that entails is up to those in charge of the game, but to accept an apology and sweep the comments under the rug is to do a disservice to all those offended by the comments.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.

Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

Sergio's Racial Comments Prove We Have a Long Way to Go

Sergio's Racial Comments Prove We Have a Long Way to Go











Adam Fonseca May 22, 2013 11:12 AM


COMMENTARY | The recent feud between Sergio Garciaand Tiger Woods has turned ugly. While Garcia's recent comments at a press conference prior to the 2013 BMA PGA Championship were a mere two sentences, his words speak volumes on how far we have come as a society in terms of eradicating racism in our culture.





Unfortunately, for Garci
a, professional sports provide the grandest of stages and the brightest spotlight when mistakes are made and poor judgment is displayed.



Golf hasn't exactly been the poster child for equality and fairness over its history. It is a creature that, at one time, thrived on its own organic exclusivity. Golf was originally meant to be enjoyed by society's elite, which at one time was defined by the number of sheep you owned. It was a pastime meant to be enjoyed by few yet heralded by many. It was all very disgusting, to be honest.

As a result, the idea of an African-American golfer playing in what was once considered to be a "white man's sport" was downright unspeakable. This mentality continued well past the Civil Rights movement in America, albeit in less pronounced ways. Make no mistake: Even if people weren't talking about it, racism in golf remained alive and breathing.

In 1990, the New York Times ran a story about Shoal Creek Country Club -- an all-white private country club -- that was the site of that year's PGA Championship. Club founder Hall W. Thompson issued a statement that "we don't discriminate in every other area except the blacks." Thompson's statement sparked one of the more inflammatory and socially polarizing events that professional golf had ever seen. The PGA of America quickly became the subject of scorn and protest, most notably from Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

''To cooperate with evil is to affirm it,'' Lowery said at the time. "'Golf is deceptive, because it seems like only plush clubhouses and green fairways. It looks very decent. But this blatant admission that we don't want black folks uncovered a hidden agenda that really isn't hidden anymore.''

Less than a decade later, Tiger Woods happened. Barriers were broken down and professional golf received a much-needed wake-up call. Thankfully, golf has never been the same since.

At least, that is until Garcia's comments earlier this week.

What is most disappointing about Garcia's poor taste in humor -- other than his carefully contrived "I didn't mean it to come out that way" apology -- is that fact that he should know better when speaking publicly. Garcia's suggestion that he was "caught off guard" by the question is laughable. This is a man who has been a professional athlete in the public eye for 14 years. I'm going to guess he has been asked odd questions in the past. Call it a hunch.

It is clear that Garcia attempted to answer a playful question in a way to insult Woods, regardless of what he said after the fact. All Garcia did in the process was prove that he was more interested in throwing fuel on the bonfire separating him and Woods than taking the high road and moving on.

Who would have thought the road Garcia preferred to take would be so low?



Adam Fonseca has been writing and blogging about golf since 2005. His work has appeared on numerous digital outlets including the Back9Network and SB Nation. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife. Follow Adam on Twitter @chicagoduffer.com.

Flooding reduces LPGA event to 54 holes

Flooding reduces LPGA event to 54 holes










The Sports Xchange May 22, 2013 4:10 PMThe SportsXchange



Torrential rains forced the LPGA to reduce this week's inaugural Pure Silk Bahamas Classic to 54 holes beginning Friday.

Even that schedule sounds tenuous based on the excess rainfall in the forecast and dreary course conditions with measurable standing water on nearly half of the fairways on the Atlantis, Paradise Island, course.

Nearly a foot of rain fell on the Ocean Club Golf Course in an eight-hour period on Tuesday.

In the wake of violent storms, significant amounts of standing water remain on at least seven holes with the ninth and 18th fairways completely flooded. Crews are working around the clock to abate water with additional efforts to clear debris and make the golf course playable ongoing.

First and second-round pairings will remain the same with a 36-hole cut made on Saturday night.

"Mentally, you're still in it although physically you can't do anything today at the course," said Suzann Pettersen. "I'm happy I got 18 holes of practice in yesterday. We will play whenever we can."

Locals are calling the worst storm in the last 20 years and Nassau has significant flooding and home damage. But a 60 percent chance for more rain Wednesday into Thursday could cause further havoc.

"You can't feel guilty about not practicing or playing today because no one is allowed out there," said Stacy Lewis. "I certainly wish for the tournament's sake that we could have played the pro-am. First-year events have some bumps and we always get through them. This is no different."

Feng leads ShopRite field by three

Feng leads ShopRite field by three










The Sports Xchange June 1, 2013 8:10 PMThe SportsXchange



GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Shanshan Feng came sprinting out of the starting gate. Now it's up to the rest of the field to chase her down.

Feng sits atop the leaderboard at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer at the 36-hole mark. She fired a 4-under par 67 on Saturday at the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club just outside Atlantic City to stand at 6-under par 136.

The 23-year old Feng is seeking her second career LPGA win; she won the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Rochester one year ago and will defend her title next week.

Feng will be three shots clear of the field when the final round gets underway Sunday morning. Haeji Kang, and first-round co-leader Moriya Jutanugarn are at 3-under par 139. Kang, who like Feng had an early tee time on Saturday, carded a 69 while Jutanugarn shot 73.

Chie Arimura and Anna Nordqvist are both at 140 while Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie, Karine Icher, Hee Young Park, and first-round co-leader Amanda Blumenherst were all at 141.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis, who was one shot off the lead when the second round started, wound up shooting 80 and fell into a tie for 49th place at 5-over par 147. She made the cut with just a shot to spare.

For most of the field, Saturday was a survival test. At times the winds blew at more than 25 mph and played havoc with the players' distance control. The winds also hardened the putting surfaces.

Feng started her round on the Bay Course's back nine and it wasn't long before her putter heated up. After starting her round with four straight pars she reeled off four consecutive birdies and made the turn at five under par after a bogey at 18. She picked up an additional stroke on par on her second nine.

Kang played her front side in even par before making two birdies on the backside.

Wie had an up-and-down round that included four straight birdies at one point. Standing on the eighth tee (her 17th hole) she was just one shot off the pace. But she finished double bogey-bogey to drop three shots.

NOTES: The cut came at 6-over par 148. Angela Stanford, a past winner, along with Natalie Gulbis and Lexi Thompson, are among the players who failed to qualify for the final round. ... Just 18 players in the 141-woman field broke par. ... Wie first played in this event 10 years ago at age 13. She tied for 52nd that year.

Feng overcomes wind to lead ShopRite

Feng overcomes wind to lead ShopRite










Rick Woelfel, The Sports Xchange June 1, 2013 9:10 PMThe SportsXchange


GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Shanshan Feng came sprinting out of the starting gate. Now it's up to the rest of the field to chase her down.

On a day when the wind made conditions brutally difficult, Feng took control of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

She fired a 4-under par 67 on Saturday at the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club just outside Atlantic City to stand at 6-under par 136 for 36 holes.

The 23-year-old Feng is looking for her second LPGA win; she'll defend her title at the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Rochester next week.

Feng will be three shots clear of the field when the final round gets underway Sunday morning. Haeji Kang and first-round co-leader Moriya Jutanugarn are at 3-under par 139. Kang, who like Feng had an early tee time Saturday, carded a 69 while Jutanugarn shot 73.

Chie Arimura and Anna Nordqvist are both at 140 while Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie, Karine Icher, Hee Young Park and first-round co-leader Amanda Blumenherst all stand at 141.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis, who was one shot off the lead when the second round started, wound up shooting 80 and fell into a tie for 49th place at 5-over par 147. She made the cut with just a shot to spare.

Feng started out with a red-hot putter. After starting the round with four straight pars, she reeled off four consecutive birdies.

"I started the round with confidence," she said, "because even though I didn't have a good start yesterday I did have a really good finish. So I think after a few pars, and then I made like four birdies in a row. But then after four birdies, I was like, 'Oh, maybe I'm doing well right now.' But I think a four-under round is still a pretty good score."


Playing the back nine first, Feng did indeed bogey the 18th but still made the turn at five under par. She picked up an additional shot on par on the front side.

Feng put a new set of clubs in play this week, which she said boosted her confidence.

"This is the first week with the new clubs, and right now I'm feeling really, really good," she said. "Nothing's really different, but I think just more effort, so I like them."

While Feng was enjoying the sanctity of the clubhouse, her closest pursuers were battling the conditions.

Jutanugarn moved into a tie for the lead when she birdied the 12th hole (her third). But bogeys at the 14th, 18th and second cost her three shots and she played the rest of her round in even par.

"We had an afternoon tee time" she said, "and the wind picked up stronger. I tried to play one shot at a time, and keep calm and try to play, whatever."

At times during the afternoon the winds blew at more than 25 mph, playing havoc with the players' distance control. The winds also hardened the putting surfaces.

Paula Creamer made the cut right on the number at 148.

"Nobody has ever seen this place like this before," she said. "It's not only that it's just windy -- we've played in that before. The conditions aren't quite the best.

"The greens need some water, that's for sure. It's just getting so firm out there. But it is what it is and you just have to go about it and commit to your shot and whatever happens happens after the ball leaves the club face."

Wie, who also played the backside first, moved to within two shots of the lead when she birdied her opening hole. But a bogey at 15 and a double-bogey at 18 dropped her to one under par.

She rallied on the front side, rolling in four straight birdies to get to within two shots of the lead standing on the eighth tee. But two errant tee shots cost her three shots on the way in as she finished double bogey, bogey.

"It was a little more difficult than yesterday," she said. "This golf course, it can get you on a hole. I had two double bogeys today. It's very frustrating, but at the same time this course can do this to you."

Wie is trying to win her third LPGA title and her first since 2010.

NOTES: The cut came at 6-over-par 148. Angela Stanford, a past winner here, along with Natalie Gulbis and Lexi Thompson, are among the players who failed to qualify. ... Just 18 players in the 141-woman field broke par. ... Wie first played in this event 10 years ago at age 13. She tied for 52nd.

Webb wins LPGA event

Webb wins LPGA event










Rick Woelfel, The Sports Xchange June 2, 2013 6:20 PMThe SportsXchange



GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Karrie Webb came from five shots off the pace on Sunday to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer by two shots.

Webb fired a 3-under par 68 in the final round over the Bay Course at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club near Atlantic City. She finished the 54 holes at 4-under par 209.

It was the 39th career victory for the LPGA Hall of Famer and her first since she won the inaugural RR Donnelley Founders Cup in 2011.

Shanshan Feng, who started the day with a three-shot lead, closed with a 75 to finish second at 2-under par 211. Hee Young Park carded a 71 to finish alone in third place at 212. Jenny Shin's 70 left her at 213.

Michelle Wie, who was tied with Webb when the round began, finished with a 74 to tie for ninth place at 215.

Webb started her day tied for sixth place but worked her way through the pack, while battling winds that at times blew at over 25 mph.

She jump-started her round by rolling in an uphill 25-foot birdie putt at the par-4 second hole. She followed up with a 10-foot eagle putt at the third that moved her into a tie for the lead with Feng, two groups behind her, who double bogeyed the second.

Webb stumbled with a bogey at the sixth, but her performance on the greens was the key to her round. On six different occasions, she salvaged par by rolling in putts of between four and seven feet.

After her bogey at the sixth, she ran off 11 straight pars before draining a short birdie putt at the final green.

Feng double bogeyed the fifth to fall to 3-under-par for the championship but regained the outright lead with a birdie at the eighth.

When Feng bogeyed the 11th and 13th, Webb found herself atop the leaderboard for the first time. Her birdie at the 18th extended her lead to two shots.

Feng cut the deficit in half with a birdie at the par-4 16th, but bogeyed the 17th.

Just three players, Webb, Feng, and Park, finished the 54 holes under par.

Notes: Webb's winning total tied for the highest in the history of the tournament, relative to par. Juli Inkster finished 4-under-par for the 54 holes in the inaugural event in 1986, which was also played at Seaview... Webb is the sixth LPGA Hall of Famer to win this tournament. The others: Inkster, Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, and Se Ri Pak.... Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng shot an 80 on Sunday to finish her week tied for 69th place at 10-over par 223.

Former PGA Tour Jim McGovern feeling dandy ahead of '13 PNC debut

Former PGA Tour Jim McGovern feeling dandy ahead of '13 PNC debut











PGA.COM June 14, 2013 2:01 PM

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PGA Professional Jim McGovern, who won the 1993Shell Houston Open , is now in his third season as the …


By Bob Denney, The PGA of America

Two decades removed from winning the Shell Houston Open, his lone victory of a 22-year PGA Tour career, Jim McGovern is at peace in a place where television doesn't shine its bright lights or draw the rapt attention of a scrutinizing national audience.

It is home, sweet home.

In his third season as the PGA head professional at White Beeches Golf and Country Club in Haworth, N.J., McGovernhas not retired from competition. He merely refined his priorities to what comes first -- his family. McGovern, 48, will be part of the 312-player field in his first PGA Professional National Championship, June 23-26, at Sunriver (Ore.) Resort. He earned his berth by finishing third in last fall's New Jersey PGA Championship.

"It's great; I like being home," says McGovern, sounding ever like a man who found Shangri-La. "I love it here. The traveling was getting to me. My kids were getting bigger and I wasn't there to see them grow up. I have even dabbled a bit as a basketball coach."

One of nine children of Howard and Terese McGovern, owners of a family trucking business, McGovern has six brothers. Brother Rob is a former NFL linebacker turned U.S. Army military attorney; and brother Bill is the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Bill getting that job means that I might have to put on a little green, but not when they face my (New York) Giants," joked McGovern.

The McGoverns are a hard-working family, says Jim, and that stems from parents who believed in earning what comes from sound business practices and building those you care about most. "My dad made us who we are, what we are," says McGovern. "Mom is still going great at 82, and she is working in our golf shop."

A native of Teaneck, N.J., McGovern says he hurt his arm playing baseball during the same part of the season as when golf season was starting in school.

"The golf coach also was a gym teacher," says McGovern. "I was a junior in high school at the time. I remember the coach saying, 'Hey McGovern, you better try golf.'"


McGovern's path to full-time golf was later sealed when he suffered a knee injury in football at Bergen Catholic High School. Perhaps it was destiny as the McGovern brothers had grew up near the fourth hole at Hackensack Golf Club near Oradell. They would sneak on the course at twilight for any game that they could squeeze in before sunset. "It was like the biggest backyard we'd seen," says McGovern.

"Golf was a perfect challenge for me," says McGovern, who turned professional in 1988. "For me, it was facing one opponent -- the golf course. I love being tested."

The competitive side of McGovern carried over to his responsibilities as a PGA club professional. He reviews merchandise orders, trains an apprentice, coordinates junior camps and oversees details for the club's member-guest tournament.

This is the same guy who made nearly 200 PGA Tour cuts, tied for fifth at the 1994 Masters, and earned nearly $3 million. He remains just the second New Jersey native to win on the PGA Tour, following 1941 PGA Champion Vic Ghezzi, an 11-time Tour winner.

When McGovern defeated John Huston in a playoff in the rain-shortened 1993 Shell Houston Open, he became one of six first-time winners on Tour that year and pocketed $587,495. He would never win again, spending years between the PGA Tour and the former Nationwide circuit.

He regained a Tour card for the 2008 season, making just 11 cuts in 26 events. By then a lack of success and the travel away from his wife, Lauren, and their four children had taken its toll.

A disappointing 2008 season convinced McGovern it was time to consider making a career change. After playing in a handful of Tour events through 2010, McGovern interviewed successfully for the head professional job at White Beeches, a 1920 Walter Travis layout, just a few miles from his Bergen County home.

The new experience of competing against his club professional peers in The PGA of America has been a fulfilling transition. "I enjoy being with the guys that I have met in this Section," McGovern says. "They have accepted me."

The chance to compete at the highest level has been a part of McGovern's DNA throughout his career.

"I like being competitive. I'd rather be watching a tractor pull than a soap opera," says McGovern. "It excites me."

The 46th PGA Professional National Championship is presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA. The Championship, June 23-26, will be televised live by GOLF CHANNEL.