Garcia leaves note for Tiger over racial jibe

Sergio Garcia has made repeated apologies for the "fried chicken" jibe he directed at Tiger Woods last month, saying he "felt terrible" and had left a note for the American in his locker.

Though the two players shook hands on the practice range at Merion Golf Club on Monday in their first meeting since Garcia made the reference, the Spaniard said it had not been an "appropriate place" for him to apologise to Woods in person.

Garcia conceded that the fall-out from the whole affair could distract him in his bid to win this week's US Open and expressed his hope that Woods would read the note at some point.

"I want to apologise for what happened a couple of weeks ago," Garcia told reporters at the start of what turned out to be a moving and heart-felt news conference at Merion on Tuesday.

"But hopefully, like Tiger said, he's considering the matter closed and hopefully we can all move forward and kind of start competing ... respectfully ... hopefully we can all have a great tournament."

Asked if he had apologised to Woods during their brief meeting at Merion on Monday, Garcia replied: "Unfortunately not. I felt like it wasn't the appropriate place for me to, out of respect to him and to the other players, to do it there.

"Unfortunately, when I got done practising he was gone already, so I couldn't see him.

"This morning I was here early. I didn't see him around, but I did leave him a note. A handwritten note. Hopefully he can take a look at it. It's a big week and I understand that it's difficult to meet up and stuff."