Having quickly come to the defense of Sergio Garcia in his ongoing verbal spat with Tiger Woods, European PGA Tour chief executive George O’Grady now finds himself in hot water over what some are now calling derogatory comments he made.

According to The USA Today, in dismissing the “fried chicken” comments Garcia directed at Woods on Monday, O’Grady said: “We know the connotation in the United States. We accept all races on the European Tour; we take it very strongly. Most of Sergio's friends are colored athletes in the United States.”

Now at issue is O’Grady’s use of the term “colored athletes,” which some also view as a racist slight. The debate has proven enough to elicit O’Grady into now voicing his own apologies.

“I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports for which I unreservedly apologize," O'Grady said.

Two days earlier, Garcia was forced into apologizing when he answered a reporter’s question about inviting Woods to dinner during the upcoming U.S. Open with the snide and loaded response: “We’ll have him round every night; we will serve fried chicken.”

ESPN reported Woods immediately termed the remarks “hurtful” and Garcia has since asked for a face-to-face sit down with the No. 1 player as part of their reconciliation. Never pals, the two have been even more at odds in recent times stemming from words they exchanged at the The Players championship won by Woods two weeks ago.