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Woods' TPC antics 'lacked character'

Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods became embroiled in a war of words at TPC Sawgrass © Getty Images

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Tiger Woods' actions during the third round at the Players Championship and subsequent denial of any wrong-doing "lacked character", according to the course marshals blamed for allowing him to disturb playing partner Sergio Garcia at TPC Sawgrass.

After a weekend war of words between Woods and Garcia, the two marshals are disputing Woods' retelling of what happened on Saturday.

Garcia said Woods distracted him by pulling a club from his bag - stirring the gathered gallery - while Garcia attempted a shot elsewhere.

Woods said he didn't see Garcia when he made the move, and besides, the course marshals gave him the OK.

The course marshals, well they see things a bit differently.

The play in question occurred on the second hole of the third round at TPC Sawgrass. Garcia and Woods were playing partners for the round, and the two feuding golfers traded barbs throughout the weekend.

"It's very simple," Garcia said during an NBC interview Saturday. "You have to pay attention to what's going on because the other guy is hitting. You do something when you're in the crowd and the crowd is going to respond."

Woods' response to Garcia's complaint was simple: The marshals said I could.

"The marshals, they told me he already hit, so I pulled a club and was getting ready to play my shot," Woods explained, "and then I hear [Garcia's] comments afterward and it's not real surprising that he's complaining about something."

"He didn't ask us nothing," marshal Gary Anderson said Sunday, according to a report by Sports Illustrated. "We didn't say nothing. We're told not to talk to the players."

Chief marshal John North was also present for Woods' controversial shot on the par-5 hole.

"Nothing was said to us and we certainly said nothing to him," North said, according to Sports Illustrated. "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."

While no one won the battle of he said/he said, Woods did go on to win his fourth tournament of the year while Garcia imploded over the final holes of Sunday's final round and finished tied for eighth.

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

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