Garcia Issues Apology for Outburst at Masters Tournament

Sergio Garcia has expressed regret for his on-course 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 post on social media, Garcia stated, "I would like to apologize for my actions at the Masters tournament. I have immense respect for the tournament and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my behavior, which has no place in the game. My actions do not reflect the respect and appreciation I have for the Masters, 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 2017 champion began his round with a bogey and hit a weak fade on the par-five second hole, which was headed towards the bunker. Garcia then slammed his driver onto the tee and into the turf, causing damage. Without repairing the damage, he proceeded to strike his driver against a wooden bench, leaving the club head dangling from the shaft. When questioned about the incident, Garcia declined to comment on what the official had said, stating, "I'm not going to tell you." He also chose not to apologize for his behavior after finishing the round with a 75, placing 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut. Garcia attributed his performance to "bad golf" and "bad shots" when asked about his record, which has seen him fail to finish in the top 10 in 29 majors since his 2017 win at Augusta National. 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.