Broadcaster Sky Sports has apologised for “unacceptable comments” made by analyst Helen Alfredsson during coverage of the Omega Dubai Women’s Masters yesterday.

Swede Alfredsson, 48, who won 11 tournaments on the European Tour before retiring in September, is understood to have made reference to the helicopter crash which occurred in Glasgow last Friday, killing nine people. A statement from Sky Sports read: “Sky Sports offered coverage of the Dubai Ladies Masters tournament on Thursday with live pictures and commentary provided by a world feed broadcaster, supported by presentation from our own studios in London.

“Sky has no control over the commentary from the event, which is shared by a number of international broadcasters, and we were shocked at the unacceptable comments made by one of the analysts. As soon as coverage switched back to our studio in London, our presenter David Livingstone apologised and we reiterate our apology for the offence caused by these comments.”

Alfredsson later issued a statement herself via the LET which read: “Regretfully I made an inappropriate and distasteful comment on air today and apologise unreservedly for any offence that was caused by this mistake. I did not intend to hurt anybody and I am devastated if I have hurt anyone. I feel very embarrassed because this was not intended in any shape or form.”

Elsewhere, former world number one Luke Donald claimed a two-shot lead before bad weather brought an early end to the opening day of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City. Donald was five under par after 11 holes when play was abandoned due to the threat of lightning. He is two shots ahead of Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, Wales’ Jamie Donaldson and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge. Defending champion Martin Kaymer was a shot further back on two under with European number one Henrik Stenson one under through seven.