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Ashamed Garcia leaves Woods locker room note

Sergio Garcia apologised again to Tiger Woods on Tuesday © Getty Images

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Sergio Garcia left a note on Tiger Woods' locker attempting to apologise for his recent comments, acknowledging on Tuesday that he is unlikely to get the chance to say sorry to the world No. 1 in person at the US Open this week.

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The Spaniard also admitted that the issue still "doesn't make me feel good", after being asked whether he understood the consequences of his now-infamous "fried chicken" comment by a black journalist during his press conference on Tuesday.

Woods, speaking earlier the same day, confirmed that Garcia had yet to apologising personally, but insisted that the issue was "done" and that the week was all about preparing for a major.

"I was hoping to meet him after the round but he was gone after the round. The weather obviously didn't help," Garcia said. "This morning I was here early. I didn't see him around. Obviously he got here later on.

"I did leave him a note. A handwritten note. And hopefully he can take a look at it and, you know, it's a big week and I understand that it's difficult to meet up. So hopefully I'll be able to do it. If not, at least he has read the note and he's happy with that."

Pressed on the contents of the note, Garcia added: "I don't think that's for me to say. The note is for him, so if he wants to show you, then he can. I don't have any problems with that. But I am not going to be the one showing you."

Garcia was then further questioned about his conduct by a black journalist, who asked if he had an understanding that "the comments that you made regarding Tiger Woods extend beyond Tiger Woods, that they have a stinging feeling to people who look like me and other people who don't look like me that like you and support you and want you to do well out here?"

Garcia replied: "I understand that. That's why I said sorry, because I can obviously see that I hurt a lot of people. And that doesn't make me feel good. I can tell you that.

"I wish I could go back in time and take back what I said, but unfortunately, I said it. You know, the only thing I can do is show you my respect from here moving forward. I try to be as respectful as possible competing and hopefully what I do will show you how much I care about everybody."

The Spaniard is now hoping to move on from the fallout from his comments, speaking in reverential tones about Woods when asked again about his ongoing relationship with the 14-time major champion.

"I respect Tiger very much," Garcia said. "I think he's a wonderful player. He's No. 1 in the world for some reasons. He shows that. And I respect him very much and hopefully, like he said, we can move forward and see where things end up."

Despite fears, Garcia said he has not received any abuse from the crowd at Merion. Asked if the ongoing saga made it too difficult for Garcia to concentrate fully and contend this week, he added: "I don't know. We'll see.

"It obviously doesn't help, but it is my own fault. So I don't have anyone to blame other than myself."

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