Crooner John Mayer was leaving Wolfgang Puck's restaurant in Beverly Hills sans gal pal Jennifer Aniston -- when his bodyguard attacked a paparazzo! Was the smackdown provoked?

According to the shutterbug in question, Mark Ray, that's no! "I just said, 'Watch it man,' and he (the bodyguard) turns around and comes back and hits me hard in the shoulder," Ray explained.

No comment from the "Your Body is a Wonderland" singer's camp today.