Sergio Garcia has criticised playing partner Tiger Woods's etiquette during the third round of the Players Championship yesterday.

Garcia's comments relate to an incident on just the second hole of the day. The Spaniard had found the middle of the fairway with his drive, while Woods pulled his drive into the trees.

Garcia was to play first but sliced his shot before going on to make a bogey six. Play was interrupted because of the threat of lightning and during the break the Spaniard blamed Woods for the bad shot.

He told NBC: "Well, obviously Tiger was on the left and it was my shot to hit. He moved all of the crowd that he needed to move, I waited for that.

"I wouldn't say that he didn't see that I was ready, but you do have a feel when the other guy is going to hit and right as I was in the top of the backswing, I think he must have pulled like a five-wood or a three-wood and obviously everybody started screaming.

"So that didn't help very much. But it was unfortunate because - I mean I might have hit it there if nothing happens, you never know - but if I hit a good shot there and maybe make birdie, it gets my day started in a bit of a different way."

Woods managed to recover a birdie four on the second and when told about Garcia's comments, he is said to have told reporters that it was "not real surprising he's complaining about something".

In response to that, Garcia added: "That's fine. At least I'm true to myself. I know what I'm doing. He can do whatever he wants."

The pair, who are two behind surprise leader David LIngmerth, still have four holes to complete this morning ahead of the final round.

Garcia, winner in 2008, is the leading money winner in the tournament's history with earnings of £2.2m.