The British newspaper The Guardian reported Garcia was asked in jest while on stage at the European Tour's awards dinner Tuesday night if he would invite Woods to dinner during the U.S. Open. The newspaper said Garcia released a statement through the European Tour: I apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players' Awards dinner. The Masters winner is allowed to choose the champions' dinner menu for the following year.

[...] Garcia inadvertently stirred things up again later Tuesday while appearing at the European Tour's awards dinner in England. The newspaper says Garcia released a statement through the European Tour: I apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players' Awards dinner. Disputes among golfers are nothing new, though it's rare for two high-profile players to go at each other through the media. The latest chapter took place on the second fairway at the TPC Sawgrass in the third round, when Garcia had a one-shot lead. The crowd burst into cheers when Woods took a 5-wood from his bag to play a risky shot through a gap in the trees. Woods wound up winning The Players Championship, improving his record to 6-0 when he plays with Garcia in the final group on the weekend. Woods was at media day Monday for the AT&T National, where he is the defending champion, when he received the final question about Garcia and gave the one-word answer. "First of all, I don't have his number," Garcia said.

(AP) — Southern California and San Jose State shared the lead at 4-under 284 after the first round of the NCAA Women's Golf Championships on Tuesday. USC, which won titles in 2003 and '08 and was runner-up in '10 and '12, came in as the top-ranked team in the country, while San Jose State — which last won the title in '92 — was 48th. San Jose freshman Regan De Guzman led the field at 5-under 67, the school record for the lowest round in the NCAA championship. Duke, which won back-to-back-to-back titles from 2005-2007, was in third after a 2-under 286 on the University of Georgia Golf Course, two strokes ahead of five-time defending champion Alabama. Boutier, who had her best round of the year, recorded three birdies and no bogeys, and Meadow, who won the Southeastern Conference championship and finished first at the NCAA East Regional, had four birdies and one bogey.

Selected quotes on the Royal & Ancient and U.S. Golf Association approving Rule 14-1b, which bans in 2016 the anchored stroke commonly used with long putters: The comment process brought that out ... that the world golf community said we want one set of rules and we want them provided to us by those who have experience at doing it, those who are independent and those who are unbiased, and that's what the USGA is and that's what the R&A is. The USGA provided ample time and opportunity for us to not only educate our players, but also to solicit input, concerns and feedback surrounding Rule 14-1b. While we know that not every one of our members is in favor of the rule change, the LPGA will continue to respect and follow the Rules of Golf which includes the implementation of Rule 14-1b in January of 2016. — Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, who uses the broom-handle putter, to Golfweek magazine.

Golf's two governing bodies outlawed the anchored putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, approving a new rule that starts in 2016 and urging the PGA Tour to follow along so the 600-year-old sport is still played under one set of rules. The rule was opposed by the PGA Tour and the PGA of America, which contended the stroke commonly used for long putters was not hurting the game and there was no statistical proof that it was an advantage. The next step — and perhaps the most important step — is for the PGA Tour to follow the new rule or decide to establish its own condition of competition that would allow players to anchor the long putters. If a special condition were allowed for the PGA Tour, it would mean players could not use the anchored stroke at the U.S. Open and British Open. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in February the USGA and R&A would be "making a mistake" to adopt the rule, though he also has stressed in just about every interview that it was critical for golf to play under one set of rules. British Open champion Ernie Els and U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson used a belly putter, as did Keegan Bradley in the 2011 PGA Championship. What concerned them more was a spike in usage on the PGA Tour, more junior golfers using the long putters and comments from instructors that it was a better way to putt. The topic was so sensitive that the USGA and R&A allowed for a 90-day comment period, an unprecedented move for the groups that set the rules of golf. Scott switched to the broom-handle putter only in 2011, and he began contending in majors for the first time — tied for third in 2011 Masters, runner-up at the 2012 British Open, his first major victory in the Masters last month.