Steve Williams has simply gone too far this time. At the Annual Caddie Awards Dinner in Shanghai, Williams chose to rip into Tiger Woods one more time. Just so the comments can be placed in the correct context, let’s do short review of history.

Following Adam Scott’s stirring win in the WGC –Bridgestone Invitational in August at Akron Firestone, William’s chose to describe caddying for Scott’s victory as “The best week of my life.” This was an indirect shot across the Tiger Woods bow after Woods had relieved Williams of his duties as Woods’ caddy after more than decade and multiple major championship victories on Woods bag. At the time, it seemed a little disingenuous, but seemingly fair game for a jilted lover, so to speak. Woods blew off the comment and congratulated Scott and Williams for their victory, and allowed the smoke to clear fairly quickly.

Apparently that wasn’t enough for Steve Williams. While collecting his trophy for ‘Caddie Celebration for the Year’ at the annual roast this last weekend, which generally takes the privacy tone of the Radio/TV Correspondents Dinner, Williams chose to explain his August celebration by stating “I wanted to shove it up his black ___. An eleven-year old could fill in that blank.

Two things immediately come to mind. First to mind is the firestorm that emerged after Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters Invitational, and Fuzzy Zoeller uttered the infamous line to reporters to “tell him not to serve fried chicken next year, or collard greens, or whatever the hell they serve.” Zoeller’s funny-man reputation which had made him one of the most popular players on Tour was blasted to smithereens, and he has never been looked upon the same way since. The court of public opinion scalded him beyond recognition. Zoeller made an inference based upon a racial stereotype and has had to live with that remark since.

Second to mind is the equally infamous Don Imus performance at the Radio/TV Correspondents Dinner in 1986. While edgy jokes at the expense of important political figures is the norm at the dinner, Imus simply pushed the envelope too far and made the suggestion that President Clinton had most certainly said “Go Baby” more than one time, an over-the-top reference to the reported philandering that was delivered in front of both the President and the First Lady. Talk about your uncomfortable moments. Simply put, it was tasteless at best, and Imus got hit square between the eyes with an enormous backlash of criticism.

The Williams comment is reminiscent of those two train wrecks, but clearly worse. Far worse. Williams makes a direct racial reference. In both Zoeller’s and the Imus case, they were known funny men trying to make a joke, and had it go South on them. Williams is not and never has been confused with a comedian. He has been likened to a bully for the way he not only caddies, but acts as a one-man security force. His words carry the imprint of self-truth on them. The comments are anything but funny. They are damaging, hurtful, hostile and painful to see. They even perpetuate the image that golf is an elitist sport and black men do not belong. Given the reaction of the audience, they were equally painful to hear.

Once again, it is going to be up to Tiger to be the ‘better man’ here in order to make this go away. I personally don’t see how he can. The idea that Tiger is going to have to play on the same course and in the same group with Williams on Scott’s bag in the upcoming Australian Open is wrong on so many levels it begs description. Tiger will be forced to spend 5 hours in close proximity with a man who has made a malicious personal attack, and Tiger will be asked to maintain his poise and decorum. As soon as the round is over, reporters will be forced to ask “How was it with Stevie out there?” Tiger will have to lie. He will have to say it was fine and that he was focused on his own agenda. Tiger will not be able to say “I wanted to punch his face out.” And guess what. The next day, Tiger will have to do it again.

Steve Williams did not place the burden of the consequences of his remarks on himself. He placed them on Tiger Woods. That is unfair, and adds to the pressure that Tiger has been under in dealing with his own self-imposed troubles. Tiger should have this mess cleaned up for him. Instead of riding to the rescue, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and European Tour CEO George O’Grady have punted the ball back to Tiger by issuing the following statement: “We consider the remarks of Steve Williams, as reported, entirely unacceptable in whatever context. We are aware that he has apologized fully, and we trust we will not hear the remarks ever again. Based upon this, we consider the matter closed and we will have no further comment.” Ask yourself on simple question; If Tim Finchem had been the target of Steve Williams’s intemperate remarks, would Finchem have responded so blandly? Hardly. Williams’s next bag would be on the Hooters Tour.

Steve Williams is not a member of the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods is a member. The Tour should be protecting their own member, and suspending this loud mouth blowhard for at least one year. The fact that Adam Scott can’t seem to figure out the right thing to do is no surprise. He may even consider this gaining an edge in a grouping with Tiger. But for the PGA and European Tour’s to blow this off as business as usual is to remain ignorant of the consequences. The burden of dealing with the months of media attention that this is going to engender falls on Tiger, and last I checked Tiger was still a valuable Tour asset. Stevie Williams? Not so much.