The 22-year-old Spaniard was angry both with comments from the crowd during his second round and with the decision not to suspend play during torrential rain.

But bringing Woods into it by suggesting that the suspension would have come if the Masters champion had been on the course at the time was going a step too far - and Garcia quickly realised it.

The fans reacted as expected by giving Garcia an even harder time in the third round.

The danger of the situation was that it could escalate even further and make him, as well as Colin Montgomerie, a constant target of the hecklers.

"It all depends on you guys," said a repentant Garcia to the world's press when questioned following his third-round 67 quickly turned to the issue rather than his chances of catching Woods, who took a four-stroke lead into the closing 18 holes.

"If you guys don't like me and you want it to stay there I'm sure you will be able to keep it there. But I hope it's just a one-week thing.

"We'll see what happens. I'm trying my best and I really don't think that I'm the way that people are saying I am."

Asked if he regretted his words, Garcia said: "Probably, but sometimes it's hard because you're trying hard in a major and you don't have a good round and you're a little hot.

"That's why I'm 22 because sometimes you know that heat may be my worst opponent. I'll just keep trying my best.

"Sometimes we say things that maybe we shouldn't, but it's hard to say the right things over and over."