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 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, the 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, as part of the tournament's new conduct policy.
The incident occurred after Garcia started with a bogey and hit a weak fade on the par-five second hole, which was heading towards the bunker. He then slammed his driver into the turf and later hit it 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 behavior after finishing the round with a 75, placing 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut.
Garcia has not had a top-10 finish in the 29 majors he has played since his 2017 victory at Augusta National. He has missed the cut six times in eight appearances at The Masters since his win.
The PGA Tour has been developing its code-of-conduct policy, 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.