Associated Press
June 22, 2008
NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller apologized for his description of U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, saying the comments had "absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity."
Mediate, a 45-year-old Pennsylvanian of Italian heritage, held a one-stroke lead over Tiger Woods during the fourth round last Sunday. Miller said Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool." He also said, "Guys with the name 'Rocco' don't get on the trophy, do they?"
"I apologize to anyone who was offended by my remarks," Miller said in a statement through NBC. "My intention was to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco's everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity. I chose my words poorly and in the future will be more careful."
Woods beat Mediate in a playoff that lasted 19 holes for his third U.S. Open title.
PGA TOUR
In Cromwell, Conn., Stewart Cink birdied the final two holes yesterday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Travelers Championship.
Cink followed his opening rounds of 66 and 64 with a 5-under 65 to reach 15-under 195 on the TPC River Highlands, the best 54-hole score of his career.
Heath Slocum (64) was second, and defending champion Hunter Mahan (67), Vijay Singh (64), Kenny Perry (65), Tommy Armour III (65) and Kevin Streelman (62) were 12 under.
LPGA TOUR
In Rochester, N.Y., Norwegian star Suzann Pettersen shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to open a three-stroke lead over Morgan Pressel and South Koreans Eun-Hee Ji and Inbee Park after the third round of the Wegmans LPGA.
Pettersen, a five-time tour winner in 2007, had a 14-under 202 total. The 28-year-old Pettersen is winless this season, but has finishes of second, third and ninth in 10 events and is ninth on the money list.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
In Concord, Mass., Loren Roberts leads by one stroke after the second round of the Bank America Championship.
He birdied the 18th hole yesterday for a 6-under-par 66. He is a shot ahead of Mark McNulty, Jeff Sluman and first-round leader Tom Kite.
EUROPEAN TOUR
In Munich, Germany, Martin Kaymer closed in on a Ryder Cup berth when he shot a 67 for a six-stroke lead heading into the final day of the BMW International Open.
