Golf coach Haney suspended from PGA Tour Radio Channel

Los Angeles (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!”