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 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 does not reflect my appreciation for the event, its patrons, officials, and golf enthusiasts worldwide.' Garcia 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, the 2017 champion, started with a bogey and hit a weak fade on the par-five second hole, which was 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 comment on what the official had said, stating, 'I'm not going to tell you.' He also did not apologize for his behavior after his round, saying, '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 winning. When asked about his record, Garcia simply said, 'Bad golf,' and when pressed for more detail, he replied, 'Bad shots.' Garcia has a history of on-course outbursts, including being disqualified from the Saudi International in 2019 for damaging greens and angrily 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, and The Masters was the first tournament to implement it. A second violation during the tournament would result in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation would lead to disqualification. The PGA Championship, scheduled to take place next month at Aronimink Golf Club, will also enforce this policy.