Callaway golfer Rocco Mediate has shrugged off the controversy surrounding television commentator Jonny Miller''s comments at the US Open.
Speaking during Mediate''s playoff battle with Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines, NBC announcer Miller said that he resembled "the guy who cleans Tiger''s swimming pool" and later stated "guys with the name ''Rocco'' don''t get on the trophy, do they?".
The remarks provoked outrage among certain groups, with some claiming that Miller had made derogatory comments based on Mediate''s Italian-American background.
However, the 45-year-old player was quick to play down the incident this week, telling Sports Illustrated: "Johnny''s fine. He says what''s on his mind and shoots from the hip and then fixes it later. I do that a lot."
Miller himself issued an apology for his remarks last week, stating: "My intention was to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco''s everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity."
A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Mediate came tantalisingly close to clinching a Major at the US Open but eventually finished as runner-up to Woods after a thrilling playoff.
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