`Mein Kampf' Comment A Joke, Earl Woods Says

WASHINGTON - Earl Woods, the father of golfer Tiger Woods, told an audience Monday night in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall that Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" was a book that had inspired him, but then quickly added that he was joking.

The remark came in response to a question posed during an appearance by Tiger and Earl Woods in the Nation's Capital Distinguished Speakers Series presented by the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives.

Yesterday, the elder Woods said he has never read "Mein Kampf" - Hitler's manifesto, which preached anti-Semitism - and apologized to anyone he might have been offended by his comment.

"It was just a flippant remark that was addressed to the question and then I said, `Just kidding,' " Earl Woods said in a telephone interview. "Everybody heard it was a joke. . . . It was not a thought-out question and not a thought-out response to the question. It was a joking response to the question with no malicious intent at all. If I have offended anyone by that, I wholeheartedly apologize."

Earl and Tiger Woods appeared on a program with Mark McCormack, head of the International Management Group, which represents the golfer. For about 45 minutes, McCormack asked questions of the father and son team about the golfer's childhood, family life and career. Tiger Woods answered most of the questions with straightforward answers, while his father made several joking comments that brought laughs from the audience. Near the end of the program, McCormack read a few questions that had been written on cards by some members of the crowd of 2,000. Earl Woods' remark came in response to one such question.

"What book, other than your own book . . . has most inspired you?" McCormack asked, reading from the card. Earl Woods is the author of "Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life."

"Mein Kampf," Earl Woods replied.

"In what way?" McCormack asked.

"Just kidding," Woods said. Many in the audience laughed. When the laughter stopped, neither Earl nor Tiger Woods answered the book question further and McCormack moved on to the next question: "Is Tiger spoiled?"

Susan Sarfati, president and CEO of the group that sponsored the program, said that no one had complained to her about the remark and that many people said they were pleased with the program. But a caller complained to The Washington Post.

Sarfati said Woods was joking when he made the book remark. "He's not a professional speaker," she said. "I don't know why he would have said it. But he immediately caught himself and said, `I'm joking.' "

A spokesman for IMG said Tiger Woods and McCormack were unavailable for comment.