Two marshals who were working the second hold at the TPC Sawgrass on Saturday dispute the account of two other marshals who accused Woods of lying about distracting Sergio Garcia during the third round of the tournament last week. The Florida-Times Union newspaper in Jacksonville said two marshals - both part of the walking escort for Woods group - have taken issue with a Sports Illustrated report that questioned Woods' version of the events.
"It is not true and definitely unfair to Tiger,'' Brian Nedrich, told the Times-Union. "That's because I was the one Tiger heard say that Sergio had hit.''
Garcia said on Saturday that Woods distracted him during his second shot at the par-5 second hole when the No.1 ranked golfer pulled a club out of his bag while surveying his shot from left of the fairway. Woods had hit an errant drive, and the crowd had to be moved to clear a path, with Woods trying to figure out his strategy.
When he pulled a wood from his bag, spectators cheered - which happened to take place while Garcia, 50 yards away on the right side of the fairway, was addressing his ball. He went ahead with the shot, sprayed it into the trees, then looked over at the commotion displeased.
The events led to a verbal spat between the two longtime rivals that continued Saturday night, Sunday morning after the conclusion of the weather-delayed third round and again after Woods had won the tournament. Woods said Saturday night that he was told by a marshal that Garcia, who he could not see from behind the spectators in a distance, had already hit before he selected a club.
Replays have shown that not to be the case, but that the crowd made noise not while Garcia was in his backswing. Two players' marshals, John North and Gary Anderson, were quoted by SI as saying that Woods didn't ask any marshals about Garcia's status, and none was given.
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