Sergio Garcia wants to have a face-to-face meeting with Tiger Woods to apologize directly for a comment Garcia made that was deemed racially insensitive toward the world's No. 1 golfer, Australia's Sky News reports.
On Tuesday, Garcia's feud with Woods crossed the line when the Spaniard was asked in jest about inviting Woods over for dinner so the two could bury the hatchet.
Garcia said he'd have Woods over every night and would serve "fried chicken," a remark deemed offensive toward African-Americans.
After Garcia's comments at a European Tour awards dinner, guests were "stunned by the racial quip," the London newspaper Daily Mail reported. An unnamed player referred to as "one leading Tour professional," was said to remark to a journalist in attendance, "You didn't hear that."
According to Sky News, Garcia has been in touch with Woods' agent to apologize and has attempted to set up a meeting with Woods so the two could sort out their differences once and for all.
Woods and Garcia have had a frosty relationship since the 1990s when they were two of the biggest up-and-comers in the sport.
The two golfers got reacquainted when they were paired together during the third round of The Players Championship a couple of weeks ago in Ponte Vedra, Fla. Garcia became upset Woods picked out a club that Garcia said drew roars from the crowd just as Garcia was about to hit his second shot on the second hole.
The incident degenerated into a war of words between Garcia and Woods. PGA marshals at the event even became involved in, and added to, the controversy.
Woods tweeted before Garcia's plea for a face-to-face that, "The comment that was made wasn't silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate," adding, "I'm confident that there is real regret that the remark was made."
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