Sergio Garcia deserves a lengthy ban for latest show of petulance

THE latest display of petulance from Spain’s Sergio Garcia at the inaugural Saudi International tournament over the weekend, is simply not acceptable and has no place in golf, which is why I believe that he should receive a lengthy ban from tournament golf to stamp out this type of behaviour because at the end of the day, top professionals should be role models

The 39 year-old former Masters Champion, acted more like a nine year-old and he was rightly disqualified from the event after causing damage to at least five greens because he “didn’t like the grass”.

I don’t like the riveted bunkers at Ballybunion’s old course, in fact, I detest them, but I don’t go around damaging them anytime I happen to hit a ball into one of them.

Garcia is no stranger to controversary and has a history of throwing hissy-fits when things don’t go his way which is why I think that a lengthy ban from tournament golf should be considered for bringing the game into disrepute.

I’m old-fashioned when it comes to the game of golf, and I believe in honesty, integrity and best behaviour on the course at all times, no matter who you are, from an eight-year-old junior to a senior member.

Yes, occasionally I do swear after a poor shot, but I don’t go around throwing clubs or damaging the course and I certainly don’t expect to see a top professional player doing it either.

Last summer we saw Phil Mickelson deliberately breaking a rule of golf at the US Open in Shinnecock Hills when he deliberately putted a moving ball.

This caused outrage at the time and “Lefty” got away with it and wasn’t disqualified from the tournament, but if he had been, then perhaps Mr Garcia mightn’t have been as quick to misbehave in Saudi over the weekend.

Young kids watching this type of behaviour from the likes of Mickelson and Garcia might think its acceptable to behave this way and then go out and do these things which of course we don’t want.

The game of golf is in decline and we are trying to encourage young people to take up the game, which is why all top professionals should be role models.

Most of them are, but there are one or two that might need to take a look, at their on-course behaviour.