Sergio Garcia issued a public mea culpa after his on-course outburst during the final round of the Masters on Sunday. Paired with Jon Rahm, the 2017 champion visibly lost control on the second hole after finding a bunker, slamming his driver into the turf twice before snapping the head off while hitting a cooler.

His frustration cost him dearly, forcing the Spaniard to complete the remaining holes without a driver, a self-imposed handicap that contributed to his poor finish. Garcia later summed up the issue simply as “Bad golf.” Following the incident, Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued a formal code-of-conduct warning on the fourth tee.

Garcia finished the week at eight over par, placing third from last among the 54 players who made the cut, well behind winner Rory McIlroy. In his statement posted on X, Garcia stressed his deep respect for Augusta National and the tournament, calling his behaviour unacceptable for the sport.

Ultimately, the episode proved a costly error in temperament for the veteran player on a major stage. Garcia’s actions resulted in immediate sanction and a tarnished performance at Augusta National Golf Club.