Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at Masters Tournament

Sergio Garcia has expressed remorse 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 social media post, Garcia stated, "I want 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 conduct, which does not reflect my appreciation for the tournament, 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 later against a wooden bench, causing damage to the club. When questioned about the incident, Garcia declined to discuss the details, stating, "I'm not going to tell you." He also did not apologize for his behaviour after his round, saying, "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens." Garcia has not finished in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since his victory at Augusta National in 2017. 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 a code-of-conduct policy, which was first implemented at The Masters. A second violation during the tournament would result in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation would lead to disqualification.