Tiger Woods’s former swing coach and current weekday radio host on SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio, Hank Haney made inexcusable comments when discussing this week’s U.S. Women’s Open.
“This week is the 74th U.S. Women’s Open, Hank,” co-host Steve Johnson began the conversation.
“Oh it is? I’m gonna predict a Korean,” Haney responded.
“Ok, that’s a pretty safe bet,” Johnson said while laughing.
“I couldn’t name you six players on the LPGA Tour,” Haney said. “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.”
“We’ve got six Lees,” Johnson said, adding to Haney’s insensitive remark regarding the number of Korean athletes they expect to compete in the U.S. Women’s open.
Naturally, most people that heard Haney and Johnson on the radio, were not laughing along and they informed the swing coach of the joke’s insensitive core.
According to USA Today’s Christine Brennan, after receiving negative reaction on social media, Haney offered a half-hearted apology during the show that made things worse. “I can’t remember what I said,” Haney later added. “I guess people are taking this as racially insensitive…So I’m gonna apologize right now if I offended people. … I guess I said something that made people feel bad.”
As one of the most well-known golfers on the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie tweeted a reaction to Haney’s comments as soon as she was made aware of what was said on SiriusXM.
After Wie referred to Haney’s comments as racist, sexist and of no laughing matter, Haney took responsibility and apologized a little more seriously than the first time and posted the following message on Twitter.
“This morning, I made some comments about women’s golf and its players that were insensitive, and that I regret,” Haney wrote. “In an effort to make a point about the overwhelming success of Korean players on the tour, I offended people and I am sorry. I have the highest respect for the women who have worked so hard to reach the pinnacle of their sport, and I never meant to take away from their abilities and accomplishments. I’ve worked in this game with men and women players from many different cultures, and I look forward to continuing to do so.”
SiriusXM has not commented on the future of Haney’s show. He is not listed on their schedule for the remainder of the week as SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio will broadcast live coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open. Haney is listed on the channel’s regular weekday schedule for next week, in his usual 10am – noon timeslot.
The 74th Women’s U.S. Open is set to begin today, Thursday May 30th, from the Country Club of Charleston, South Carolina.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
