Anchor Tilghman suspended two weeks for racist remark; Sharpton has his say

"Tiger and Kelly are friends, and Tiger has a great deal of respect for Kelly," Steinberg said Tuesday night in a statement released by Golf Channel. "Regardless of the choice of words used, we know unequivocally that there was no ill-intent in her comments."

The Golf Channel incident has the potential to turn into the sport's worst race-related scenario since Fuzzy Zoeller made some racially insensitive remarks about Woods at the Masters in 1997. Zoeller was publicly excoriated and ultimately lost a lucrative endorsement deal. Woods waited several days to make any formal comment.

"It's not about being crucified, it's about being held accountable," Sharpton said. "Are we at the point where you can talk about lynching and then walk away like it doesn't mean anything?

"Some things are beyond the pale of discussions. Some things, under any set of circumstances, you have got to be held accountable for using this kind of language." Sharpton said it is "immaterial" whether she's a racist or if the statement represents how she really feels.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "What she said is racist. This is offensive. Either way you cut it, it is a race-based insult."

Tilghman's comment made the rounds Wednesday on TV shows such as CNN's Headline News, and it was prominently discussed on blogs and message boards on the Internet. It also was a topic on the practice range at the Sony Open.

"I'm sure Kelly wishes she never said that," Jim Furyk said. "I haven't spoken with Tiger, but I've been told that they've had their talk and they've discussed it. Anything I say is kind of just like pouring salt in the wound at this point. Obviously, she would love to not have said that and for it not to be news. I'm glad that her and Tiger spoke."

Fred Funk only heard about the comment Wednesday morning.

"There was no ill intent at all," he said. "I think it was just a slip, and they said that Tiger has already forgiven her. I think when you're in the TV tower for that many hours, you're going to wish you didn't say some things probably, and that was one thing that slipped out. I think you've got to give them a little grace.

"Her integrity, how Kelly is respected out here, is pretty good. I think Tiger really likes Kelly, so that helped squash it. Because Tiger could have run off with that if he took it the wrong way. But he didn't, so that was good."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.