Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at Masters Tournament

Sergio Garcia has expressed remorse for his on-course outburst during the final round of The Masters. Following a poor 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 wish to apologize for my behavior at The Masters. I have immense respect for the tournament and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my actions, which do not reflect my appreciation for the event, its patrons, officials, and fans 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. After starting with a bogey, Garcia hit a weak fade on the par-five second hole, which was headed towards the bunker. He then slammed his driver into the turf and hit it against a wooden bench, causing damage to the club. Garcia declined to discuss the details of the warning, saying, "I'm not going to tell you," and when asked again, he replied, "Next question." He also did not apologize for his behavior immediately after his round, stating, "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens." Garcia has struggled to replicate his 2017 Masters-winning form, having not finished in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since. He has missed the cut six times in eight appearances at The Masters since his victory. When asked about his record, Garcia attributed it to "bad golf" and "bad shots." Garcia has a history of on-course outbursts, including being disqualified 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 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 would result in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation would lead to disqualification. The PGA Championship will also be using this policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club.