Golf: Woods apologises for offending disabled with 'spaz' comment

Tiger Woods has apologised for comments he made during a television interview after the US Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club on Monday.

The American world No 1, who tied for third place three strokes behind winner Phil Mickelson, was criticised for using the term "spaz" to describe his poor putting in the final round.

"Tiger meant nothing derogatory to any person or persons and apologises for any offence caused," Woods' agent Mark Steinberg said in a statement on the player's official website.

Woods had produced a display of uncharacteristically shaky putting on his way to a closing two-under 70.

He took 33 putts in the final round, including three three-putts and a pair of missed eagle putts from inside 3m on the back nine. Mickelson took 29 putts in a closing 69.

When asked about his play on the last day at Augusta, Woods replied: "I putted atrociously today. Once I got on the greens, I was a spaz."

In several countries, "spaz" is an offensive term for people with spastic paralysis, a form of cerebral palsy.

Britain-based disability organisation Scope, formerly the Spastics Society, said of Woods' comments: "Once again, Tiger Woods demonstrates that we are two nations divided by a common language.

"Although in the US the term "spaz" may not be as offensive as it is here in the UK, many disabled people will have taken exception to his likening a golf stroke to that of "a spaz". UK disability charity Scope is confident that Tiger Woods would be devastated to learn that something he said could offend his fans, disabled or non-disabled."

Wood's remark drew little attention in the US where "spaz" is slang for someone considered clumsy or inept.

- REUTERS