The Tiger Woods-Sergio Garcia spat took another turn last night when a golf marshal said he never spoke to Woods during the controversial sequence at the second hole on Saturday.
Garcia and Woods were playing together when Garcia miss-hit his shot from the fairway on the second hole.
After the round, he blamed Woods. Garcia claimed Woods took a 5-wood out of his bag during his backswing, which prompted oohs and aahs from the crowd that distracted him.
When he was asked about it, Woods said it was all big misunderstanding. He told reporters:
“The marshal told me he already hit so I pulled the club and was getting ready to play my shot, and then I hear his comments afterward. Not really surprising that he’s complaining about something.”
But in an interview with Michael Bamberger of Sports Illustrated, two separate marshals say that that conversation never happened.
John North, who was standing over Woods’ ball at the time, told SI:
“Nothing was said to us and we certainly said nothing to him. I was disappointed to hear him make those remarks. We’re there to help the players and enhance the experience of the fans. He was saying what was good for him. It lacked character.”
Another marshal, Gary Anderson, added, “He didn’t ask us nothing, and we didn’t say nothing. We’re told not to talk to the players.”
They are both accusing Woods of lying here, North explicitly so.
Woods had no reason to lie. Garcia appeared so petty that Woods didn’t need to explain himself. In addition, Wood’s every move (and drop) is scrutinized so heavily at this point that he had to know that he couldn’t get away with fabricating an entire conversation.
It’s plausible that he was just confused. He was surrounded by hundreds fans and officials at the time and he couldn’t see where Garcia was hitting from, so maybe someone gave him the OK to play his shot.
Yeah it was none of the white guy's fault (sarcastically said).
I guess it was Tiger's fault Garcia hit his ball in the water 3 times on sunday lol.
OMG! WHAT a slant on this incident! to be expected, considering the paper. With all his talent, Tiger has no integrity…. whether garcia played like crap or not…. it doesn't matter. Tiger is an ethical nightmare. he'll cheat on his wife, cheat on his family, and cheat in golf.
Suddenly the illiterate white guys' racism is coming to the surface. They have been poised to 'get' Tiger since his first day on the scene. I'm an old white guy and a Republican and I think this is just a lot of racist hooey. Everyone get off Tiger's case. He is the best golfer on the planet, maybe the best ever. Let him play, tell the fans to STFU, tell Sergio to stop blaming Bush.
This is such a non-story. Tiger probably thought it was a marshal, but it could have been a fan. The crowd was huge. Tiger's playing well, and some folks just can't accept that.
This isn't a story….just the media trying to gain viewership. And yes, it doesn't matter how garcia played. The fact was he was NOT in his swing when the crowd chirped a little. He should have backed off and started his routine again. That is what a professional does. Look at the comments from where you got your story and 90 percent of the comments are against Garcia. His is a BIG baby and will never win a major.
Really??!! Holly Scott? It doesn't matter? That's what this whole incident is about…the way Garcia played. Tiger BEAT him! And all he can do is whine about it. This is not a story, but your comments about Tiger's transgressions belie what is at the basis of your comment. Those incidents are in the past. He apologized, payed the price by losing his family, endorsements and two years of terrible performance as a golfer. Now that he is back and winning Garcia pulls a "Fuzzy Zoeller" and makes remarks about "fried chicken" sad and pathetic. Your takeaway and comments from this non-story are just as sad and pathetic and gives insight into your thought process.