Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie has said that he believed that Sergio Garcia might be booed by this week's US Open crowds following the Spaniard's 'fried chicken' jibe towards World No. 1 Tiger Woods
Garcia and Woods are known to dislike each other, with the Spaniard's remark, when questioned on stage at a European Tour gala dinner, widely interpreted as racist and earning him fierce rebukes from, among others, his main sponsor TaylorMade-Adidas, the Guardian reports.
But the report further said that Garcia hopes to meet with Woods before the tournament gets under way at Merion on Thursday to offer a personal apology for the comment, which overshadowed the PGA Championship at Wentworth.
However, despite Garcia's apparent contrition, Montgomerie, who had Garcia as a non-playing member of his Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor in 2010, felt that further severe treatment could be in store for the Spaniard from a boisterous and lively Pennsylvania crowd, adding that such treatment is a shame to golf's name.
Montgomerie, who was also targeted by US crowds as a player, said that he had managed to tune out the verbal assaults because he had become accustomed to it and came to expect it in his future games, adding that Garcia can take his example and also go out prepared to withstand the ridicule of the crowds at the US Open.
Montgomerie further said that he has advised Garcia to disregard the criticism and just concentrate on his game as he is going to have a difficult time beating Woods at the US Open.