Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at The Masters

Sergio Garcia has expressed regret for his behaviour during the final round of The Masters. Following a disappointing drive on the second hole, Garcia damaged the turf and then broke his driver by slamming it against a bench. In a post on social media, Garcia stated, 'I would like to apologise for my actions at The Masters tournament. I have immense respect for The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my behaviour, which does not reflect my appreciation for the event, its patrons, officials, and golf enthusiasts worldwide.' The chairman of The Masters competitions committee, Geoff Yang, issued a warning to Garcia regarding his conduct. Garcia, who won The Masters in 2017, started with a bogey and hit a weak shot on the par-five second hole, which was headed towards the bunker. He then smashed his driver into the turf and later struck it against a wooden bench, causing damage to the club. Garcia declined to comment on the warning he received from the official. After finishing 52nd, Garcia said, 'I'm not particularly proud of my actions, but sometimes these things happen.' Garcia has not achieved a top-10 finish in the 29 majors he has played since his victory at Augusta National in 2017. When asked about his performance, Garcia attributed it to 'bad golf' and 'bad shots.' He has a history of outbursts, including being disqualified from the Saudi International in 2019 for damaging greens and kicking off his shoe during a tee shot at the World Match Play in 2001. The PGA Tour has been developing a code-of-conduct policy, which was implemented for the first time at The Masters. A second violation of the policy would result in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation would lead to disqualification.