Garcia apologises for smashing driver at Masters

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia has apologised after smashing his driver in anger during the final round at Augusta on Sunday.

Paired with fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm, Garcia ⁠slammed his club into the turf twice after hitting a shot that ended up in a bunker on the par-five second hole.

The 2017 champion then hit a nearby cooler, which snapped the ​head ⁠off his club.

"I want to apologise for my actions on Sunday at the Masters tournament," Garcia said in ⁠a statement posted on X., external

"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.

When asked after his round what the issue was, the 46-year-old said: "Bad golf."

The tournament was won by Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who became only the fourth man to win successive Masters titles.