Sergio Garcia has apologized for his temper tantrum during Sunday’s final round at the Masters, where he tore up turf after a poor drive on the second hole and later broke his driver against a bench.
The 2017 Masters champion posted on social media: “I want to apologize for my actions Sunday at The Masters tournament. 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.”
Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued Garcia a code-of-conduct warning on the fourth tee – part of a new policy implemented at Augusta National this year.
The incident unfolded after Garcia started his round with a bogey. On the par-5 second hole, he hit a weak fade that was headed for a bunker. Visibly frustrated, he slammed his driver into the turf without repairing the damage, then smacked the club against a wooden bench holding a water cooler, leaving the clubhead dangling from the shaft.
Garcia refused to discuss the warning after his round, simply stating “I’m not going to tell you” and “Next question” when pressed by reporters. He also initially declined to apologize, saying only, “Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens.”
This behavior continues a troubling pattern for the Spanish star. Since his breakthrough major victory at Augusta in 2017, Garcia hasn’t finished in the top 10 in any of the 29 majors he’s played. At the Masters specifically, he’s missed the cut six times in eight appearances since donning the green jacket.
When asked about his poor major championship record, Garcia was blunt: “Bad golf.” Pressed for more detail, he added simply: “Bad shots.”
This isn’t the first time Garcia’s temper has gotten him in trouble. He was disqualified from the 2019 Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration. His history of outbursts includes kicking off his shoe at the 2001 World Match Play (nearly striking an official) and spitting into a cup after three-putting at a World Golf Championship at Doral.
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. The PGA Championship will also use the policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club. Under these rules, a second violation during a tournament results in a two-shot penalty, while a third violation leads to disqualification.
