BETHESDA, Md. — No.

That was the response Tiger Woods gave Monday when asked if he ever thought of calling Sergio Garcia to bury the hatchet, so to speak, after an incident involving the two at The Players Championship led to a public spat and a prolonged he said/he said that extended to marshals.

The one word answer came during a press conference at Congressional Country Club to promote the upcoming AT&T National, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. Woods will defend his title the June 27-30. Following the news conference, Woods expanded.

“Obviously, the matter has been put behind me. The truth came out,” Woods told USA TODAY Sports about the incident with Garcia. “As I was saying the entire time, I told people what I had heard and what had happened.”

It all started on May 11, on the second fairway of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during the third round. Woods, the world No. 1 who would go on to win the title for his fourth win of the season, was in the woods left of the fairway, surrounded by the masses, trying to figure out a shot off pine needles and dirt. His playing partner, Sergio Garcia, was with his caddie in the fairway 50 yards to the right of Woods, in a perfect position for his second shot. As Garcia took his stance to hit his shot, Woods took a metal wood out of his bag. The resulting noise from the excited fans surrounding Woods reached Garcia at the top of his backswing and his shot went way right of the intended target, crashing into woods to the right of the green.

Garcia was clearly agitated as he looked toward Woods’ way and later said Woods – unintentionally or not — caused a distraction that triggered the poor shot. Woods said Garcia didn’t know all the facts and that he was told by marshals that Garcia had hit and that’s when Woods pulled the club.

The spat, the latest in a long running feud between the two, extended late into the night with dueling verbal barbs and then into the next day when Garcia said Woods “isn’t the nicest guy on Tour.”

And then the story didn’t die. Sports Illustrated reported two marshals said Woods didn’t ask about Garcia and words were never spoken between the marshals and Woods. One, the chief marshal of the hole, said Woods’ explanation of the incident “lacked character.” Two days later the Florida Times-Union reported that two player escorts said there was communication between them and Woods and that Woods was just guilty of getting the sequence of events mixed up.

Woods said he asked playing partners about drop in Abu Dhabi and The Players Championship. In the Masters, he was docked two strokes — but not disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard — the day after taking an illegal drop. Woods said he did what he was supposed to do in each case.

Woods has won seven times on the PGA Tour in the since March 2012 — but no majors. He remains stuck on 14, with his last coming in the 2008 U.S. Open. His next chance comes in the U.S. Open at Merion outside of Philadelphia. Woods has never been to Merion.

“I will play it before tournament week,” Woods said. “I’ll go take a look at it. Generally that’s when I do a lot of my scouting on the greens and do all my charting, take care of that, so I have very little to do as far as charting the greens during the tournament week.

” … I don’t know if it’s hilly or it’s flat, is it predominantly right to left, left to right, whether it’s going to be the driver or is it going to be the 3-wood that week or 5-wood, I don’t know. These are all things that I’ll get an understanding for when I first go play it.”

Woods also talked about the proposed anchoring ban. The U.S. Golf Association will announce its decision concerning anchoring on Tuesday. If the ban becomes a rule of golf, it won’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016. The PGA Tour and the PGA of America opposed the ban during the comment period.

“I hope they go with the ban,” he said. “That’s something that I’ve said, that anchoring should not be a part of the game. It should be mandatory to have to swing all 14 clubs. There are different ways of making the butt end of the club move. You’ve seen it with Bernhard Langer when he won the Masters putting against his forearm, what (Matt Kuchar) does putting against his forearm, as well. But it’s not a fixed point; the butt end does travel.

” … And as far as the PGA Tour, I hope they do it as soon as possible to be honest with you. I’ve always said that. I’ve always felt that golf you should have to swing the club, control your nerves and swing all 14 clubs, not just 13.”

And Woods said his swing change — and a slight alteration to his training — has helped keep him healthy for an extended period of time.

“That’s one of the reasons why I changed my swing, to make it a little bit easier on my body. The strength training is still there. I don’t go out there and run the 30 miles a week like I used to,” Woods said. “I’m just too old to do that now. But I still will do the explosive training and I’ll still do all that, all the strength training. I’m stronger now than I ever have been, but I just obviously can’t log the miles like I used to.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

BOSTON – Woody Johnson believes the New York Jets are like Superman.

Well, in what they stand for, anyway.

“We’re trying to win games and do the right thing. Truth, justice and the American way. We live by it, we really do,” the Jets owner told reporters upon arriving at the NFL spring meeting. “We have a strong credo, very proud people, very intelligent people that work in our building. We want to avoid the avoidable and I think we do a good job.”

Johnson was talking about those values because Mike Goodson allegedly didn’t live by them last week.

The Jets’ running back, who was new general manager John Idzik’s first free-agent acquisition this offseason, was arrested on charges of drug and gun possession. According to New Jersey State Police, Goodson was the passenger in a car driven by a man previously convicted on drug-possession charges.

Police say a .45 caliber gun and hollow-point bullets were found in the car, though they’re still investigating which of the men in the car owned the gun.

Goodson was at the Jets’ facility Monday but did not participate in organized team activities.

“We’re at a point of investigating the facts,” Johnson said. “John Idzik met with him this morning, he’ll meet with the coaches today. We’ll try to get the story on what the facts are and go from there.”

The Jets recently cut two players – defensive lineman Claude Davis and defensive back Cliff Harris – who were charged with drug possession. But those players were roster hopefuls at best. Goodson signed a three-year deal worth $6.9 million, so he was expected to play a big role in the Jets’ backfield along with Chris Ivory.

Johnson was asked if Goodson’s situation is like that of Davis and Harris.

“It may or may not be,” Johnson said. “That’s why we’re trying to get the facts.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Boston Celtics player Terrence Williams was arrested Sunday afternoon in Kent, Wash., for allegedly making threats to the mother of his child while brandishing a gun, according to published reports.

The Seattle Times reported the incident happened about 2 p.m. Pacific time at a downtown Kent parking lot. Williams and the woman had a scheduled visitation exchange with their 10-year-old son. According to the The Times, the two started arguing and Williams revealed a firearm and made threats.

Williams, 25, was located and arrested by police at another location without incident.The Times reported Kent police are labeling it as a domestic violence case that is under investigation.

Williams, a 6-6 guard/forward, played at Louisville from 2005-09 and was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. His career started with the New Jersey Nets, before spending time with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. He played part of this past season in China, before signing a 10-day contract with the Celtics in February.

Williams caught on with the Celtics and signed for the remainder of the season and next season. His contract that is scheduled to pay him $947,907 would become guaranteed if he isn’t waived before Oct. 31. Williams averaged 4.6 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 24 games for the Celtics this season.

Williams is from the Seattle area.

Brown also writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal, a Gannett property.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Akron cornerback Seth Cunningham is facing charges of aggravated robbery after allegedly stealing a $447 water pipe at gunpoint from a Brunswick, Ohio, tobacco store, according to Brunswick police.

According to the police report, Cunningham, 21, entered the 24-hour store shortly after midnight on May 13 and waved a handgun in the air before removing the pipe from a display case.

Police found Cunningham in his pickup truck on a nearby street, where he had pulled into a driveway and remained in the vehicle. He was found inside with the pipe and his handgun. He admitted to the robbery, according to a Cleveland FOX affiliate, and was released on May 15 after posting a $30,000 bond.

Akron has since suspended Cunningham indefinitely “pending the outcome of a police investigation,” the school said in a statement.

Cunningham, a senior, was expected to challenge for a starting role at cornerback for the Zips in 2013. He played in nine games last season, making nine tackles, and started twice as a sophomore in 2011.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — When Ruston Webster called old friend John Idzik after Idzik was hired as the New York Jets’ general manager Jan. 18, he had two things to say.

“Congratulations,” the Tennessee Titans general manager said.

There was a pause.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Being an NFL general manager is a dream that personnel men, scouts and salary cap experts around the league share. Molding a team’s roster with millions of dollars to burn is quite the gig.

But in Idzik’s case, the rush has come with plenty of headaches.

— He signed free agent Mike Goodson to share the starting job at running back. Then he saw Goodson charged with five counts of drug and gun possession Friday. Goodson was a passenger in a car — driven by a man with a previous drug-possession conviction — that was stopped in the left-center lane on Interstate 80 in New Jersey shortly after 3 a.m. ET Friday. Idzik cut two players who were arrested earlier this month and now must decide whether to do the same with Goodson.

— He cut numerous veterans because of a bloated salary cap he inherited from his predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum.

— He traded one of the best defensive players in the league, sending cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because Revis’ contract exorbitant demands didn’t fit owner Woody Johnson’s view of smart money.

— He cut Tim Tebow, a move that angered the quarterback’s fans and highlighted Johnson’s major miscalculation of trading for a suspect player who sparked a circus atmosphere.

— He signed quarterback David Garrard to compete with Mark Sanchez, only to see Garrard abruptly retire last week because of recurring knee issues.

— He drafted West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, who quickly had to defend himself against charges that he was a diva.

Unlike GMs in smaller markets with fan bases that don’t feel as tortured, Idzik hasn’t had a grace period from the news media or agitated Jets fans. And don’t expect opinionated tweeter Joe Namath to start advocating the patience Johnson preached in a recent interview.

Is Idzik sure he wants to do this? Yeah.

Will being a thoughtful, patient, confident decision-maker, as others view him, help him handle the pressures of this job? Yes.

But does Idzik even know what hit him?

“Not yet, to be honest. Not there yet,” he said last week. “We have offseason program, the (organized team activities) coming up, the mandatory minicamp. After you get through mandatory minicamp, then you can kind of look back and say, ‘What just happened?’ I’ve been here a little over four months, and it just seems like one continuum.”

Numbers guy

Idzik, a wide receiver during his college days at Dartmouth, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in mathematics in 1982.

His father, John Sr., was an assistant coach for four NFL teams, winning Super Bowl V with the Baltimore Colts in the 1970 season. He wrapped up his NFL career with the Jets in 1979.

While serving in various front office roles from 1996 to 2012 during stints with the Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, John Jr. handled contract negotiations.

He previously dabbled in scouting and coached briefly as a graduate assistant at Duke while getting his master’s degree in liberal studies, but he mostly is known as a numbers guy — and as a guy who will double- and triple-check those numbers to make sure they’re correct.

“John was always that guy that was last to leave the building, burning the midnight oil,” said Webster, who worked with Idzik in Tampa and Seattle. “I’d say, ‘John, let’s get out of here,’ and he’d say, ‘I have to call guys on the West Coast,’ or something like that. Always there late at night, working.”

Johnson liked how detailed Idzik’s staff was in preparing for the draft. By Johnson’s count, there were 5,000 reports compiled and 300 schools scouted. Johnson also noted how Idzik wanted everybody’s input and discouraged sitting back.

Reading into Johnson’s tone: Idzik’s methods are more thorough than Tannenbaum’s.

“His demeanor, his preparation, his unflappability, he wants to make decisions on his terms, which he’s doing and he’s inclusive,” added Johnson. “It’s true and defines who he is.”

Slow and steady

Idzik’s pace is often a slower one than others would like, but it leads to confidence in his decisions. To him, they’re the right ones because he’s made sure they’re right.

“He’s going to do what’s best for the club, period,” said Seahawks GM John Schneider, who advocated for Idzik during the Jets’ hiring process. “He’s not going to get bullied or pushed around, whether it’s media influence or whatever.”

Perhaps a GM who didn’t know Idzik would’ve bailed when the Revis negotiations sputtered for nearly three months while Idzik waited for the best deal possible.

Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik sat five feet from Idzik when both worked under former Tampa Bay GM Rich McKay. He declined to discuss specifics of the Revis trade negotiations, but Dominik surely knew how deliberate Idzik would be.

What could’ve been done in February was instead completed at nearly the latest possible point: Revis to the Bucs for a first-round pick this year (No. 13 overall, which Idzik used to select Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson) and a conditional pick next year.

Just as he did with the release of Tebow, which happened after an exhaustive search uncovered no takers before, during and after the draft, Idzik took his time.

“There’s a purpose behind everything he was doing,” Dominik said. “John’s a very deep thinker. He’s trying to play it like chess, like we all do. You can’t just live the moment today, you have to look down the road one — two, three years. That’s the hardest part of being a GM.”

Making connections

While walking the hallway at the NFL’s career symposium in Philadelphia this month, a bystander told Idzik he looked taller than the last time he’d seen him.

“So they haven’t beaten me down yet, huh?” Idzik replied.

If these last few months haven’t done it, maybe it won’t happen. Idzik has already improved the communication between the front office and the locker room.

Sanchez might not have liked the drafting of Smith, but he praised Idzik for keeping him in the loop. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie admits he was miffed after Revis was traded but received a call from Idzik shortly thereafter. Idzik told Cromartie he wanted to speak to him face-to-face when he arrived at the facility.

“Not in San Diego!” Cromartie, a former Charger said. “I had (former GM) A.J. Smith, man. He wouldn’t listen to what nobody was saying.”

And then there’s the coach. Idzik inherited Rex Ryan and must decide on his future at some point. For now, the bombastic Ryan believes the methodical Idzik could serve as a counter-balance for him.

“What’d he go to, Duke? And I didn’t,” Ryan said with perfect comedic delivery. “Are we good for each other? We’ll see. I think so.”

Jets brass believes in Idzik’s approach as the organization tries to clean up its image after two losing seasons filled with back-page headlines.

“It’s been impressive how he’s come in, quickly assessed situations and identified strategic ways to address them,” team president Neil Glat said. “He’s a good guy to work with and has commanded people’s respect right away.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Guan Tianlang turned heads in the Masters and shocked the golf world when he made the cut. Then he made a second consecutive cut in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. His surprising play was tempered with a missed cut in last week’s HP Byron Nelson Championship.

Now the 14-year-old sensation will play at Jack’s place.

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance announced Monday that the Chinese amateur sensation accepted an exemption to compete in the Jack Nicklaus’ annual gathering of the best players in the world.

“It is Jack Nicklaus’ event, and the same as all the golf fans out there I have very high respect to Mr. Nicklaus, not just as a golf legend, but also as a great person,” Guan said in a press release. As an eighth-grader he became the youngest player in Masters history and the youngest to make the cut. Guan finished 58th. “He has been actively involved in the development of golf in China, and junior golf development worldwide, and as a junior golfer myself I appreciate what he has done to help us grow. My parents and I got the chance to meet him in person at the Masters, and that was one of the highlights of my week at Augusta National.”

The tournament is May 30-June 2 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Guan, a native of Guangzhou, China, earned his invitation to the Masters with a victory in the 2012 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. After his performance in the Masters, he finished 71st at 4-over 292 in New Orleans. Last week he missed the cut in the Nelson after rounds of 70 and 77.

“The Memorial Tournament has been a strong supporter of amateur golf since its inception, and each year the winners of both the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur are always invited to participate,” Nicklaus said. “With the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship becoming such an important event in the game of golf, and with the winner earning an invitation to the Masters tournament and a spot in International Final Qualifying for the British Open, the Captains Club thought it was only appropriate to offer an invitation to the Memorial Tournament. We hope that in the future, we can make this a standard policy with our exemptions.

“I have found (Guan) to be mature beyond his years and very passionate about his development in the game. Winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur was a great achievement in and of itself, but his maturity, composure and competitiveness in these two significant events sends a message that this young man has a wonderful future. For the growth of the game internationally, he is a role model for all aspiring Asian amateurs, as well as young boys and girls around the globe, so it is only appropriate to give him another opportunity to compete on a world-class stage.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.