Sergio Garcia has issued a statement of apology two days after a heated display on the second hole during the final round of the Masters. The incident, which saw Garcia damage the tee box and break his driver, resulted in an official code-of-conduct warning from Augusta National chairman of the competitions committee, Geoff Yang. This marks the first time such a warning has been issued at the prestigious tournament.
The apology, posted on social media on Tuesday, came after Garcia initially declined to comment on his actions immediately following his round on Sunday. He cited frustration throughout the year as a contributing factor to the outburst, which occurred after an errant tee shot on the par-5 second hole landed in a bunker.
Garcia's actions involved repeatedly slamming his driver into the turf and subsequently breaking the club against a cooler. Under tournament rules, he was not permitted to replace the damaged club for the remainder of the round. He finished the tournament tied for 52nd place among the 54 players who made the cut, shooting a 3-over-par 75 on Sunday. Augusta National officials subsequently repaired the damage to the tee box.
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The 2017 Masters champion expressed regret for his behavior, stating it "does not reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world." He added that the way he acted "has no place in our game."
This incident adds to a history of notable on-course displays from Garcia. Reports recall a similar episode where he spit into a cup during a World Golf Championship event after a three-putt. His move to the Saudi-backed LIV circuit several weeks after a temper tantrum involving a rules official on the PGA Tour also draws parallels. Garcia, 46, has not achieved a top-23 finish at the Masters since his victory, with six missed cuts in recent years.
