Sergio Garcia has expressed remorse for his outburst during the final round of The Masters tournament. Following a disappointing drive on the second hole, Garcia ripped up the turf and subsequently broke his driver by slamming it against a bench. In a statement posted on social media, Garcia said, "I would like to apologize for my actions at The Masters.
I have immense respect for The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club, and I regret my behavior, which does not reflect the values of our game." Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, 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. Garcia's round began with a bogey, followed by a weak fade on the par-five second hole that headed towards the bunker. In frustration, he slammed his driver into the turf and then struck it against a wooden bench, causing the club head to dangle from the shaft.
When questioned about the incident, Garcia declined to discuss the details, stating, "I'm not going to tell you." After finishing the tournament in 52nd place, Garcia showed little remorse for his actions, saying, "It's not something I'm proud of, but sometimes these things happen." Garcia has struggled to replicate his 2017 Masters victory, failing to finish in the top 10 in his last 29 major appearances. He has also missed the cut six times in eight appearances at The Masters since his win. When asked about his performance, Garcia attributed it to "bad golf" and "bad shots." This is not the first time Garcia has been involved in controversy, having been disqualified from the 2019 Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration.
He has also been known to exhibit angry behavior on the course, including kicking off his shoe during a tee shot at the World Match Play in 2001 and spitting into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral. The PGA Tour has been developing a code-of-conduct policy over the past few years, with The Masters being the first tournament to implement it. The PGA Championship will also adopt this policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club. According to the policy, a second violation during the tournament will result in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation will lead to disqualification.
The PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open will all be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports in the coming months.