Golf: Woods Criticised for 'spaz' Remark

Tiger Woods been criticised for his use of language and urged to apologise after suggesting he had putted like "a spaz" during last weekend's US Masters. Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey Thompson joined representatives from the Disability Rights Commission and cerebral palsy charity Scope in condemning the American.

Woods, who lost his title at Augusta to Phil Mickelson, had said: "I putted atrociously today. Once I got on the greens I was a spaz." Thompson fears his off-the-cuff use of the term was more likely to be copied because the golfer was seen as a respectable character. "My worry is people and youngsters seeing that someone like Tiger Woods is using this kind of terminology," she said. "If they think it's OK for him to use it, then do they think it's OK for them to use it as well?"

The 11-time Paralympic gold medal winner acknowledged the word may be considered less offensive in the United States than it is in England, a point also recognised by Scope. Previously known as The Spastics Society, Scope only changed its name in 1994 after being lobbied by disability groups who felt the word had become offensive.

But a spokesman for the charity said: "Tiger Woods has demonstrated, as George Bernard Shaw said, that 'England and America are two countries divided by a common language'. Although in the US the term 'Spaz' may not be as offensive as it is in the UK, many disabled people here will have taken exception to likening his poor golf stroke to that of 'a spaz'." He added the charity was "confident" Woods would be devastated to learn something he said could offend his fans - disabled or non-disabled.

The Disability Rights Comission was more stringent in its criticism, pointing out that the golfer's own experiences with prejudice should have left him more aware. "We shouldn't limit people's horizons by continuing to use the nasty labels of the past," said Agnes Fletcher, assistant director of communications. "The low expectations that the term 'spaz' conveys are something that undermine young disabled people's hopes from a very early age.

"Tiger Woods is a role model for young people around the world and has smashed through prejudice to achieve on the international stage. He will no doubt regret that his words may compound the prejudice that so many of his disabled fans face."