Sergio Garcia issued an apology on Tuesday for his outburst during the final round of the Masters, which saw him damage the turf after a poor drive on the second hole and subsequently break his driver against a bench.
The incident prompted Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, to issue a code-of-conduct warning to Garcia on the fourth tee. This conduct policy was a new addition to the Masters this year.
"I want to apologize for my actions Sunday at The Masters tournament," Garcia stated in a social media post. "I respect and value everything that The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to golf. I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world."
The 2017 champion began his round with a bogey before hitting a weak fade on the par-5 second hole, sending his ball towards a bunker.
In frustration, he recoiled his driver onto the tee, then turned and slammed the club into the turf. Without repairing the damage, Garcia then struck his driver against a wooden bench holding a water cooler, leaving the club's head dangling from its shaft.
Garcia had initially declined to discuss the official's warning, stating after his round, "I’m not going to tell you." When pressed further, he responded, "Next question." He also did not apologize for his behavior immediately after his closing 75, which placed him 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut. "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens," Garcia remarked.
Since his playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National in 2017, Garcia has not secured a top-10 finish in the 29 majors he has played. He has missed the cut in six of his eight Masters appearances since his win. When asked about his performance record, Garcia simply said, "Bad golf," and when prompted for more specifics, he added, "Bad shots."
This is not Garcia’s first brush with controversy; he was disqualified in 2019 at the Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration. His past antics include angrily kicking off his shoe after slipping during a tee shot at the 2001 World Match Play, an incident that nearly saw the shoe strike an official. He also once spat into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral following a three-putt.
The PGA Tour has been developing its code-of-conduct policy over recent years, with the Masters being the first tournament to implement it. The PGA Championship is also set to use the policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club. Under the new rules, a second violation during a tournament incurs a two-shot penalty, while a third violation results in disqualification.
