Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at the Masters

Sergio Garcia has expressed remorse for his on-course outburst during the final round of the Masters Tournament. The incident occurred when Garcia became frustrated with his drive on the second hole, resulting in him damaging the turf and subsequently breaking his driver against a bench. In a statement posted on social media, Garcia said, "I would like to apologize for my actions at the Masters. I have immense respect for the tournament and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my behavior, which was unacceptable in the world of golf. My actions do not reflect the respect and appreciation I have for the Masters, its patrons, officials, and fans worldwide." Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, addressed Garcia on the fourth tee, issuing a warning regarding his conduct. This year, the Masters introduced a new code-of-conduct policy. Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, started his round with a bogey and then hit a weak fade on the par-five second hole, which was headed towards the bunker. He reacted by slamming his driver into the turf and then into a wooden bench, causing damage to the club. For the latest golf news, schedules, and live coverage, visit the PGA Tour website or stream with no contract. When asked about the incident, Garcia declined to comment on the details of the conversation with the official, stating, "I'm not going to tell you." Garcia also chose not to apologize for his behavior after completing his round with a 75, finishing 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut. He simply stated, "It's not something I'm proud of, but sometimes these things happen." Garcia has struggled to replicate his 2017 Masters victory, failing to finish in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since. He has missed the cut six times in eight appearances at the Masters. Regarding his performance, Garcia attributed it to "bad golf" and "bad shots." This is not the first time Garcia has been involved in an on-course incident. In 2019, he was disqualified from the Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration. He has also been known to exhibit angry outbursts, including kicking off his shoe during a tee shot at the World Match Play in 2001 and spitting into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral. The PGA Tour has been developing its code-of-conduct policy over the past few years, with the Masters being the first tournament to implement it. The PGA Championship will also be using this policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club. According to the policy, a second violation during the tournament will result in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation will lead to disqualification. Watch the PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open, all exclusively live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.