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Sydney. Greg Norman has defended caddie Steve Williams over his racial slur about Tiger Woods, saying the comments were “stupid” but that he didn’t believe Williams was racist.

Norman, speaking on Monday at The Lakes, where he begins play in the Australian Open on Thursday, also said Williams’ current employer Adam Scott should ignore calls to release him.

Scott later issued a statement reiterating he would stand by Williams and saying he considered the issue closed.

At a caddies’ awards party on Friday in Shanghai, Williams talked about a television interview he gave following Scott’s win at the Bridgestone Invitational, saying “it was my aim to shove it up that black a------.”

“We’ve all made stupid comments at stupid times, unfortunately his stupid comment became global news,” Norman said. “I know he probably regrets saying it, but I guarantee you in that room on that night there was probably some heavier things said.”

Norman, who had Williams on his bag for several years in the 1980s, replied “No, not at all,” when asked if Williams was racist.

Scott said in a statement on Monday that he believed “there is absolutely no room for racial discrimination in any walk of life, including the game of golf.”

“I have discussed this matter directly with Steve and he understands and supports my view on this subject. I also accept Steve’s apology, knowing that he meant no racial slur with his comments.”

Woods and Scott are also playing in the Australian Open, which has attracted a strong field due to the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne next week.

Norman disagreed with a possible, but unlikely, move to pair Woods and Scott together this week for the first two rounds of the Australian Open. It was also suggested to Norman, the captain of the International side for the Presidents Cup, that he might send Scott out against Woods in the team event in Melbourne.

“Everybody wants me to pair Adam and Tiger next week, right? I’m sure there was a question about pairing Adam and Tiger this week,” Norman said. “Of course everybody wants to see it. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do from a promotional aspect, No. 1, because it should just be an automatic draw.

“I don’t think there is any issue between Tiger and Adam at all.”

Norman said any feud between Woods and Williams needed to be sorted out.

“I hope it gets resolved. Golf doesn’t need it. Golf needs Tiger back playing great golf like he used to. Golf needs the cohesiveness that’s always existed,” he said.

Norman, asked if golf had a problem with racism, said: “No, not at all. Never seen it, never seen it at all.”

Woods was in Melbourne on Monday at a corporate day. It’s the city where he last won a tournament: the Australian Masters in November 2009.

Associated Press