Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at the Masters

Sergio Garcia has expressed remorse for his behavior during the final round of the Masters Tournament. 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 statement posted on social media, Garcia said, "I want 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 has no place in the game of golf. My actions do not reflect the appreciation and respect I have for the Masters, its patrons, officials, and golf enthusiasts worldwide." Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued a code-of-conduct warning to Garcia on the fourth tee, as part of the newly introduced conduct policy at the Masters this year. The 2017 champion began his round with a bogey, followed by a weak fade on the par-five second hole that headed towards the bunker. Garcia then smashed his driver onto the tee and into the turf. Without repairing the damage, Garcia proceeded to hit his driver against a wooden bench, causing the club head to dangle from the shaft. When asked about the incident, Garcia declined to comment on what the official had said, stating, "I'm not going to tell you." When questioned further, he replied, "Next question." Garcia also did not apologize for his behavior after completing his round with a 75, finishing 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut. "I'm obviously not proud of it, but sometimes these things happen," Garcia said. Garcia has not finished in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since his victory at Augusta National in 2017, beating Justin Rose in a playoff. 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." When pressed for a more detailed explanation, he said, "Bad shots." In 2019, Garcia was disqualified from the Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration. His history of outbursts includes kicking off his shoe in anger during a tee shot at the World Match Play in 2001, which nearly struck an official, and spitting into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral after three-putting. 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. After the warning, 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.