‘“No Room for That in Our Game”: Sergio Garcia Issues Apology Following Masters Outburst’

Sergio Garcia has issued an apology following his explosive outburst during the final round of The Masters, where he tore up the course after a poor drive on the second hole and subsequently damaged his driver.

The 2017 champion began his round with a bogey and then hit a disappointing fade on the par-five second hole that looked destined for the bunker, prompting him to angrily thrust his club into the ground.

He then slammed his driver against a wooden bench supporting a water cooler, leaving the head of the club hanging loosely from the shaft.

Garcia received a code-of-conduct warning at the fourth tee, a policy newly introduced at this year’s Masters.

In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday morning (AEST), the 46-year-old expressed his regret over the incident and his behaviour.

“I sincerely apologise for my actions on Sunday at The Masters,” Garcia stated.

“I deeply respect and value The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club’s significance in the game of golf. I regret how I behaved, as it is completely unacceptable in our sport.

“My actions do not reflect the respect and appreciation I hold for The Masters, the patrons, the tournament officials, and golf fans worldwide.”

When initially questioned about the incident after concluding his final round, Garcia chose not to divulge specifics regarding the official’s comments, simply stating, “I’m not going to tell you” following his round.

He also refrained from apologising while reflecting on his performance after posting a closing score of 75, placing him 52nd out of 54 players who made the cut.

“I’m obviously not proud of it, but sometimes these things happen,” Garcia remarked.

Since his victory over Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National in 2017, Garcia has struggled to make a significant impact in 29 major tournaments, failing to secure a top 10 finish.

Moreover, he has missed the cut in six of his last eight appearances at The Masters since winning.

His history of on-course frustration includes a disqualification in 2019 at the Saudi International for damaging greens and a notable incident in 2001 during the World Match Play where he angrily kicked off a shoe that nearly hit an official after slipping during a tee shot. Additionally, he once spat into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral following a three-putt.