Garcia seeks Tiger talks to defuse race row
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, May 23, 2013
A contrite Sergio Garcia said yesterday he wants a meeting with Tiger Woods to apologize directly for the racist row that was sparked by his "fried chicken" comments at an official dinner.
Garcia has had a long-running feud with Woods and it exploded on Tuesday night when he was questioned on stage at the annual European Tour dinner.
Garcia was asked if he would invite Woods for dinner and responded by saying he would have him round every night and serve fried chicken, stereotypically associated with black people in the American deep south.
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Tiger Woods (R) and Sergio Garcia have been at each other's throats for almost 10 years. |
Woods took to twitter, calling Garcia's comment "hurtful" before attempting to defuse the row after the Spaniard had issued a statement though the European Tour saying he did not mean to cause the world No. 1 any offense.
And Garcia has been in touch with Woods' agent to apologize and attempt to set up a meeting with the American to sort out the problem once and for all. "I don't have his phone number but I have called his manager," Garcia told reporters at Wentworth ahead of the PGA Championship.
"He didn't pick up so I left him a message and told them I was very sorry and that I would love to talk to them as soon as possible and make sure everything is okay. I said how sorry I am - it was a bad comment.
"I am sure that I will be able to talk to him and apologize to him face-to-face. Then move forward and forget about the whole thing."
Woods tweeted: "The comment that was made wasn't silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate.
"I'm confident there is real regret that the remark was made. The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it is time to move on..."
Garcia's comments echoed those made by former Masters winner Fuzzy Zoeller in 1997 when he joked with reporters to tell Woods not to ask for "fried chicken or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve" at the next year's Champions dinner.
Woods' mention of the Players is a reference to the row that he and Garcia had during the Players' Championship a fortnight ago.
The week was marred by Garcia's spat with Woods - the eventual winner - on the third day when Woods disturbed the Spaniard as he was hitting a shot.
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