Garcia Offers Apology for Outburst at Masters Tournament

Sergio Garcia has issued an apology for his outburst 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 expressed remorse for his actions, stating, "I want to apologize for my behavior at The Masters tournament. I have profound respect for The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my actions, which do 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, as part of the tournament's new conduct policy. The incident occurred when Garcia began with a bogey and hit a weak fade on the par-five second hole, which was headed towards the bunker. Garcia then smashed his driver into the turf and subsequently struck it against a wooden bench, causing damage to the club. When asked about the incident, Garcia declined to discuss the details, saying, "I'm not going to tell you." He also did not apologize for his behavior after his round, stating, "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens." Garcia has struggled to replicate his 2017 Masters victory, failing to finish in the top 10 in the 29 majors he has played since. His record at The Masters has been particularly disappointing, with six missed cuts in eight appearances since his win. 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.