By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former champion Sergio Garcia apologized for shattering his driver on the second tee box during the Masters final round in Augusta National, Georgia.
Garcia, 46, hit a shot into the bunker on the second hole and took out his anger on the box, shattering his driver after slamming it into the turf twice and taking chunks out of the ground.
The 2017 Masters champion said he regrets the way he acted.
“I want to apologise for my actions on Sunday at the Masters tournament,” Garcia said in a statement posted on X.
“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.”
Because the club was damaged out of anger, Garcia was unable to replace it, leaving him without a driver for the rest of the round.
Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued a code-of-conduct warning to Garcia on the fourth tee.
The Spaniard went on to post a three-over-par 75 to finish the week at eight over, third from last among the 54 players who made the cut.