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Golf coach Haney suspended from PGA Tour Radio Channel
LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Veteran golf coach Hank Haney was
suspended Thursday from the SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio Channel over remarks on
the US Women’s Open field branded “racist and sexist” by golf star Michelle
Wie.
Haney, best known for his stint as Tiger Woods’ former coach, triggered
uproar with a series of disparaging remarks about women’s golf on his
SiriusXM radio show.
“Mr. Haney’s comments on women’s professional golf were insensitive and do
not represent the views of the PGA Tour or SiriusXM,” a joint statement from
the tour and SiriusXM said.
“The PGA Tour is committed to and proud of the increasing diverse makeup of
our fan base, not to mention the power and accomplishments of the game’s
world-class, global players — both on the PGA Tour and LPGA, whom we are
working with more closely than ever before.
“SiriusXM proudly covers and supports both women’s and men’s golf and the
athletes that make them great.”
The statement added that “at the PGA Tour’s instruction” Haney had been
suspended from SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio Channel, and that SiriusXM was
“reviewing his status on SiriusXM going forward.”
Haney has offered an apology on Twitter after his comments this week
sparked an uproar.
In a conversation with co-host Steve Johnson about who might with the US
Women’s Open, which teed off on Thursday in Charleston, South Carolina, Haney
commented: “I’m gonna predict a Korean.”
“I couldn’t name you like six players on the LPGA tour,” the 63-year-old
added.
“Nah, maybe I could — well, I’d go with Lee. If I didn’t have to name a
first name, I’d get a bunch of them right.”
Wie, who is skipping the US Open because of injury was the first to blast
Haney’s comments.
“As a Korean American female golfer, these comments that @HankHaney made
disappoint and anger me on so many different levels,” Wie wrote on Twitter.
“Racism and sexism are no laughing matter Hank… shame on you. I don’t
ever do this, but this must be called out.”
Retired Swedish great Annika Sorenstam called Haney’s comments
“unacceptable” and Australian Karrie Webb urged the PGA Tour to act in a
tweet saying: “@PGATOUR if you’re truly serious about supporting the @lpga
and growing the game these two morons won’t have a voice anymore!”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0857 hrs