Golf:Tiger Woods will tonight give his first press conference since his former caddie Steve Williams made a racist remark about him. It is unclear whether the American former world number one will talk about the matter, with the conference in Sydney ostensibly called to discuss this week's Australian Open.

Williams made the remark about Woods at a caddies’ awards dinner in Shanghai last Friday, where he was carrying the bag for Australian Adam Scott at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament having parted company with Woods in July.

He had told the audience that the aim of his celebration when Scott won a world championship in August was “to shove it right up that black arsehole”.

Despite the International Federation of PGA Tours releasing a statement condemning the comment as “entirely unacceptable” yesterday, neither they nor Scott are planning to take any action against Williams.

“I don’t see it being an issue moving forward,” Scott said. “I think from my side of things and my teams (of sponsors), the matter has been put to bed. I’ve got nothing more to talk about it with anyone. So I’m moving on.”

Another Australian golfer, Greg Norman, also defended Williams. Speaking in the Australian media, Norman said: “Steve’s not a racist. We’ve all made stupid comments at stupid times. Unfortunately his stupid comment became global news. I know he probably regrets saying it.

“But I guarantee in that room that night there was probably some heavier things said.”

Tournament director Brian Roosenberg ruled out the possibility of Woods and Scott — and by extension Williams — being paired for the opening two rounds of the tournament in Sydney.

“It was never going to happen. No chance,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph. However, if the pair shoot matching scores there could still be the prospect of them walking the course together at the weekend.