For once I thought the usual Tuesday press conference that Tiger seems obliged to give every time he plays was worth listening to, mainly because he told the media attending in Sydney and watching around the world that he and his former best friend had met face to face, talked it through, Williams apologized again, they shook hands and are moving on.
That should take all the steam out of what many in the media were hoping through some suddenly found sense of moral indignation, or more likely the passionate desire to squeeze every last ounce out of this story to continue the feeding frenzy fuelling their columns and air waves.
The old pals have cleared the air, are moving on, Both Commissioners have had their say and closed the books, Adam Scott has had his say and will continue to have his caddy and has no further comment, the questions have been asked and answered, the pairings are out, play in what should be a great Australian Open gets underway in the wee hours of Thursday (est) and that's the way it should be in my opinion.
Williams should never speak publicly again, although the very people who are calling for his head, will be the first to beg him for another quote.
This is world of instant news now, much of it with no filter. Throughout this whole tempest you have heard from just about everybody, with views ranging from over the top hysteria, to those that are more calm and sensible, like Greg Norman's who never forget, is the man when it comes to golf in Australia.
The tempest is over, but will never be forgotten.
Here is a copy of the AP press release on Tiger's presser earlier today from Sydney.
SYDNEY - Tiger Woods received an apology from former caddie Steve Williams over a racial slur when the two met and shook hands Tuesday.
“We talked this morning, we met face to face and talked about it, talked it through,” Woods said ahead of the Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club.
Williams' disparaging comment came during a caddies' awards party Friday in Shanghai. “It was a wrong thing to say, something that we both acknowledge,” Woods said. “He did apologize. It was hurtful, certainly, but life goes forward.”
Woods said it was not up to him to call for sanctions against Williams. The PGA Tour and European Tour have said no action would be taken against Williams for the comment.
“Stevie's certainly not a racist,” Woods said Tuesday. “There's no doubt about that. It was a comment that shouldn't have been made and was certainly one that he wished he didn't make.”
He was asked how two people so close together for more than a decade — Williams was on Woods' bag for 13 of his 14 majors over 13 years — could become so distant so quickly. Woods fired Williams in July. “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.”
Asked for the source of the animosity between the pair, Woods replied: “That's between Stevie and me. We talked it through, and we'll leave it at that.”
On Monday, Greg Norman called Williams' comment stupid but also said he felt the New Zealand caddie was not a racist. “We've all made stupid comments at stupid times, unfortunately his stupid comment became global news,” Norman said. “I know he probably regrets saying it but I guarantee you in that room on that night there was probably some heavier things said.”
Adam Scott remains the New Zealander's employer. He said in a statement that he believes “there is absolutely no room for racial discrimination in any walk of life, including the game of golf.” I have discussed this matter directly with Steve and he understands and supports my view on this subject,” Scott said. “I also accept Steve's apology, knowing that he meant no racial slur with his comments. I now consider the matter closed. I will not be making any further comment.”
Woods said he is injury-free for the first time in months, allowing him to practise at an accelerated rate. “My bad rounds need to be under par, not over par,” Woods said. “That's something I haven't done through this stretch.”
That stretch is a victory drought of nearly two years — his last win on any tour was at the Australian Masters in November 2009.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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