Get rid of Garcia for 'fried chicken' jibe, black golf chief urges sponsors

By Peter Higgs


The backlash against Sergio Garcia in America grew as black golfers demanded he is punished by sponsors while Garcia's agent said extra security for the Spaniard was being considered at next month's US Open.

The National Negro Golf Association called on Garcia's main sponsors, TaylorMade, to suspend him from being their £5million-a-year ambassador and warned a minority of spectators could 'feel compelled to express their disappointment with him at tournaments'.

In the firing line: Spain's Sergio Garcia will have to wait to apologise in person


Association president Winfred Kirksey said: 'We believe a spokesman for an iconic Americanfounded and based company, such as TaylorMade-adidas Golf, should be more knowledgeable of his employer's market and wiser in his choice of words.

'We call on TaylorMade to suspend Mr Garcia from his role as a sponsored PGA Tour professional immediately until he has had the opportunity to receive diversity and inclusion training and developed a better sense of our nation's history, multicultural demographic and sensitivities.'

The shortage of black spectators at golf events will save Garcia from widespread criticism, Kirksey believes. But he could be in for a difficult time at the US Open in less than two weeks, in Pennsylvania.

The Spaniard, 33, had been hoping his apologies would lead to his selfconfessed 'stupid' mistake at the European Tour's dinner being forgiven. Asked during a lighthearted question-andanswer session if he would ask long-time nemesis Tiger Woods to his house at the US Open, Garcia said: 'We'll invite him round to dinner every night - and serve him fried chicken.' His personal manager Carlos Rodriguez said Garcia was still badly affected by the remark.

'He's not great,' said Rodriguez. 'He's just trying to play his golf.

'He will play the US Open but I don't know yet if we will ask for extra security there.'

TaylorMade said they were 'continuing to review the matter', having called the comments 'clearly out of bounds'.