The Australian golfer Adam Scott is standing by his caddy Steve Williams after the controversy surrounding the New Zealander's racist remark about Tiger Woods.
When he went on stage at an awards dinner in Shanghai to receive the prize for the season's best celebration, Williams made derogatory comments about his former employer, which threatened to overshadow the HSBC Champions golf event where Scott shot a 69 to sit three shots behind leader Fredrik Jacobson in the third round.
However Williams issued a clear apology to the American Woods on his website before again caddying for Scott at the Sheshan International Club.
Scott is resisting calls to fire the man he hired in August after Williams had parted company with long-time employer Woods.
Scott told reporters that Williams did the right thing by apologising and said he values Williams' contribution to his game.
Williams' award was for his outspoken comments after Scott's Bridgestone Invitational win in August, following his firing by Woods, when the caddy claimed the victory with the Australian was the best in his career.
Scott told reporters that things were said at the event in good spirits and Williams' comments were were probably taken out of context.
He also disagreed with suggestions he should sack Williams, saying he did the right thing by issuing an apology.
Tiger Woods' spokesman Mark Steinberg says the comments were regrettable but says Woods will be moving on.
