Tiger Woods hurt by caddie’s slur

Tiger Woods says he was hurt by a racist slur from his former caddie Steve Williams, who referred to him as a “black arsehole”.

“It was hurtful certainly, but life goes forward,” Woods said in Sydney on Tuesday.

Williams sought out his former boss to apologise after Woods arrived at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney to prepare for this week’s Australian Open.

“We met face to face and talked about it,” Woods told reporters.

“He did apologise. Obviously it was the wrong thing to say, something that we both acknowledge now, and we’re moving forward.

“Steve’s certainly not a racist. It was a comment that shouldn’t have been made and was certainly one that he wished he didn’t make.”

Williams, who now works for Australian Adam Scott after Woods sacked him in July, made the comment when addressing a caddies’ awards party in Hong Kong at the weekend.

When he was asked why he took such pleasure in Scott’s victory at the World Golf Championships event in Akron, Ohio in August, he replied: “It was my aim to shove it up that black arsehole.”

Woods was asked how his former close, long and successful relationship with the New Zealander had gone so wrong.

“That’s a great question. I don’t know that one,” Woods said. “For me personally, it was a tough decision to make to go in a different direction in my personal life, but as far as personally, I don’t know how it could have happened the way it did. But it just did and here we are.

“It’s just one of those things where we’ll see what time does and, as we all know, time does heal wounds.”

While there have been calls for disciplinary action against Williams, the US PGA Tour and European tour have both ruled out any action and Woods said it was not up to him to call for sanctions against him.

Pressed for more details on his conversation with Williams, Woods said: “That’s between Stevie and I. We talked it through and I’ll leave it at that.”

Scott has found himself the unwilling meat in the sandwich. Under pressure to fire or suspend Williams, Scott issued a statement on Monday apologising on behalf of his team while saying there was no place for racial discrimination. He accepted Williams intended no racial slur.

The episode has added spice to the tournament, which has the best field in decades, including eight of the top 20 in the world.

Woods, who has dropped to No.58 through injury and loss of form, is making his first appearance in the Australian Open since 1996, his rookie year as a professional.

He and Scott are equal favourites for the event, which carries prize money of $1.5 million. Woods is being paid about $2 million appearance money.

The 14-time major winner has not won a tournament since the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath in Melbourne two years ago.

He says a spate of injuries, including the need for major knee surgery, rather than his much-publicised marriage meltdown, stalled his progress.

But he believes that is turning around now he is fit again.

“Being prepared to win, is something I haven’t been able to do,” said Woods. “I haven’t been able to practise. That takes time.

“I haven’t felt physically prepared. Mentally I was ready to go but physically I hadn’t done the reps.

“I haven’t been able to play consistently day in and day out. My bad rounds need to be under par. I need to turn 73s and 74s into (sub 70s).”

Although he can no longer swing the club as violently as in his youth, he says he has regained his length and power. “I’m excited finally to be able to do what I want to do.”