Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia really don’t like each other, something that was more than apparent when the two golfers barely acknowledged each other’s existence during 14 holes of their weather-delayed third round at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday.
Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia engage in a war of words at Players Championship
Sergio Garcia blamed a Tiger Woods distraction for an errant shot on the second hole Saturday -- and happily shared his thoughts -- but the disagreement didn’t end there.
Garcia escalated the cold war between the two when he complained to NBC’s Steve Sands during the lightning-induced break that Woods was to blame for his errant shot on the second hole. After darkness forced officials to call it quits for the day, Woods responded to Garcia’s charge, which elicited an equally sassy retort from the Spaniard.
“The marshals told me he already hit so I pulled the club and was getting ready to play my shot and then I hear his comments afterwards,” Woods told reporters after playing to even-par through 14 holes. “Not really surprising that he was complaining about something.”
Woods, who acknowledged that the two golfers “didn’t do a lot of talking,” said he was fully aware of what Garcia had said to Sands before returning to the course following the two-hour hiatus.
Garcia, for his part, was unapologetic.
“Obviously, I hit some bad shots after that, and I’m blaming myself for those, but that was a little bit unfortunate,” he said. “I think sometimes you have to be a bit more careful.”
His retort to Woods’ comments? “That’s fine, you know? At least I’m true to myself.
“I know what I’m doing,” Garcia added, “and he can do whatever he wants.”
Frank Nobilo offered his views on the kerfuffle.
“They’re big boys,” the Golf Channel analyst said. “Golf doesn’t have to be played in a cone of silence.”
Except if you’re Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, in which case, silence is golden.
Late sleepers, set your DVRs -- The Rumble at Sawgrass continues Sunday at 7 a.m ET.
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