Golfer Sergio Garcia 'regrets' Masters outburst, issues apology
Sergio Garcia of Spain watches his ball fly on hole No. 12 during the first day of the Masters Tournament on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI April 14 (UPI) -- Golfer Sergio Garcia said he regrets his outburst of frustration at the 2026 Masters Tournament and issued an apology Tuesday on social media.
Garcia finished 52nd at the first major of the PGA Tour season Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. He fired a final round score of 3-over-par and was 8-over for the tournament. The Spaniard expressed serious frustration after his second drive.
He followed the 320-yard shot into a bunker by smashing his driver several times into the tee box. Garcia also smacked the driver into a nearby cooler, snapping off the club head. He was issued a code-of-conduct warning and not allowed to replace the club for the remainder of the round.
"I want to apologize for my actions on Sunday at the Masters Tournament," Garcia wrote on Instagram , X and Facebook. "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. " Garcia was spotted speaking with Geoff Yang, the chairman of the competitions committee, on hole No. 4 on Sunday at Augusta.