Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at Masters Tournament

Sergio Garcia has expressed remorse for his behavior during the final round of The Masters. Following a disappointing drive on the second hole, Garcia ripped up the turf and then damaged his driver by slamming it against a bench. In a post on social media, Garcia stated, "I want to apologize for my actions at The Masters tournament. I have immense respect for The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my behavior, which does not reflect my appreciation for the tournament, its patrons, officials, and golf enthusiasts worldwide." Garcia, the 2017 champion, received a code-of-conduct warning from Geoff Yang, chairman of The Masters competitions committee, on the fourth tee. This warning was part of a new conduct policy introduced at The Masters this year. Garcia's round began with a bogey, followed by a weak fade on the par-five second hole that headed towards the bunker. He then smashed his driver into the turf and, without repairing the damage, struck it against a wooden bench, causing the clubhead to dangle from the shaft. When questioned about the incident, Garcia declined to discuss the details, saying, "I'm not going to tell you." He also did not apologize for his behavior after completing his round with a 75, finishing 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut. Garcia stated, "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens." Garcia has struggled to replicate his 2017 success, failing to finish in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since his victory at Augusta National. He has missed the cut six times in eight appearances at The Masters since his win. When asked about his record, Garcia attributed it to "bad golf" and "bad shots." Garcia has a history of outbursts, including being disqualified in 2019 at the Saudi International 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 its code-of-conduct policy over the past few years, with The Masters being the first tournament to implement it. A second violation during the tournament results in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation leads to disqualification. The PGA Championship will also adopt this policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club.