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Woods: End 'lynching' furore

22/01/2008

Tiger Woods has called for an end to the controversy over TV presenter Kelly Tilghman comments, after she said his rivals should "lynch" him.

Speaking during Golf Channel's coverage of the Mercedes-Benz Championship earlier this month, Tilghman - who is a friend of Woods' - was discussing with pundit Nick Faldo how the player's rivals may be able to overturn the world number one's dominant position in the rankings.

In a jovial fashion, Faldo suggested the other players gang up on Woods, to which Tilghman replied: "Lynch him in a back alley!"

The comments caused controversy because of the inevitable connotations of the Old South, when nearly 3,500 blacks were lynched by supremacist mobs in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Due to the public outcry, Tilghman was suspended for two weeks by the Golf Channel.

However, speaking for the first time since the comments were made Woods - who returns to action in 2008 at this week's Buick Invitational – played down the furore.

"It was unfortunate," he said.

"Kelly and I did speak. There was no ill intent. She regrets saying it. In my eyes, it's all said and done."

When asked if he had been contacted about the issue, he admitted he had, but added: "I tell them she's a friend of mine, which she is.

"I've known her for ten or 11 years now. We all say things we do regret, and that's certainly a moment she does regret."

Woods also claimed the saga had been "more media-driven than anything else" after Golfweek magazine ran a front cover featuring a noose on their January 19th issue, shortly after Tilghman's comments.

The publication was heavily criticised by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and the editor responsible for the issue, Dave Seanor, was sacked soon afterwards.