I was watching when Tiger Woods won the Masters Tournament two weeks ago at Augusta National, whose founder, Clifford Roberts, once said, “As long as I’m alive, golfers will be white, and caddies will be black.”

I saw a largely white crowd give perhaps the loudest and longest standing ovation in golf history as Woods broke down in tears on his father’s shoulder after breaking tournament history and winning by more than 12 shots. I felt moved, not just because of a great moment in golf history, but because Woods is a young, talented man, who is breaking records, beating the pros at their own game, and who, by chance, happens to be a darker shade than those who have dominated the sport.

And, he was applauded. Tom Kite, who came in second in the tournament, commented, “I don’t care what race he is. He’s a golfer. He’s a nice kid. He’s got very high standards. We need more winners like that.”

Well, as it turns out, not everyone was clapping.

Fuzzy Zoeller, considered one of golf’s goodwill ambassadors and 1979 Masters champion, was asked about Woods after the tournament. After a few general comments, which included calling Woods “that little boy,” he noted that the new winner hosts the annual champion’s dinner and said, “Tell Tiger not to have fried chicken.” Then as Zoeller walked away he turned and said, “And no collard greens, either.”

The newly arrived are rarely welcomed with open arms in this country, and unfortunately, even on the golf course this has yet to change.

And it’s funny how one person’s “politically incorrect” comment can change the way everyone looks at the game and the people who play it.

My roommate and I were watching, as those comments dropped comfortably and with such ease out of Zoeller’s mouth. My mouth dropped open emptily. My roommate had to ask what year it was. Zoeller reiterated in one sentence what most people try to forget: golf is still a white sport, and we still live in a white world.

It wasn’t simply the comment about the traditionally southern black food, if Zoeller would have alluded to a Thai chicken dinner it would have been the same. The fact was, he made a decision. When he called Woods “that little boy,” he wasn’t speaking of his age. He used it as those before him, whom he most likely learned it from, had a belittling comment used against blacks since slavery. He decided to take us all back to a time when “coloreds” had to use one toilet, and whites used another. A time when the “coloreds” were merely caddies.

It sickens me. Maybe it’s because I had hoped that as Woods won it possibly changed those who had viewed him as a great, black golfer into simply a great golfer. He is not just a token for blacks, Asians, Native Americans or any minority that is not represented in this sport. He simply epitomizes a new generation that wants to be noticed for its accomplishments first, color later. That is why we are all Tiger Woods. And that’s also why he didn’t even bother to comment on Zoeller’s remark.

Of course, Zoeller apologized a week later, only after the remarks were aired on CNN’s Golf Weekly program. “I have been on Tour for 23 years and anybody who knows me knows that I am a jokester,” he said. “It’s too bad that something said in jest is turned into something it’s not, but I didn’t mean anything by it and I’m sorry if it offended anybody. If Tiger is offended by it, I’ll apologize to him, too.”

Kmart, one of old Fuzzy’s sponsors, didn’t find his comments humorous. They decided to drop him.

Zoeller’s apologies won’t change the fact that his blatantly racist comment is how most will continue to characterize the golf world. It’s hard not to put your foot in your mouth when it slips in so easily.

Tracina Travis is an English senior and writes a biweekly Thursday column. Her e-mail address is travis@mail.sdsu.edu