Koepka slams ‘childish’ Garcia

● 40 year old should grow up says US star ● Home hero Knox enters Scottish Open

Three-time major winner Brooks Koepka has accused Sergio Garcia of acting like a child following the incident which led to his shock disqualification from the inaugural Saudi International.

Garcia was disqualified for “serious misconduct” under rule 1.2a after admitting to damaging greens on the front nine of Royal Greens Golf & Country Club during the third round.

Koepka was playing two groups ahead of Garcia and therefore not directly affected by the actions of the 39-year-old, but was nevertheless unimpressed by what occurred. Koepka told the Playing Through podcast: “That’s just Sergio acting like a child.

“Everybody’s got to play the same golf course. I didn’t play very good, but you didn’t really see anybody else doing that. You’re 40 years old so you gotta grow up eventually.

“It’s frustrating as a player to see. To act like that, the disrespect to everybody, to act like a child out there is not cool. It’s not setting a good example and it’s not cool to us, showing us no respect or anybody else.”

It is far from Garcia’s first brush with authority and led to calls on social media for the former Masters champion to face a hefty fine or suspension, but European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley told The Scotsman last week: “The incident

0 Sergio Garcia: ‘Disrespect’.

is over. We have dealt with it. Sergio has apologised to the players and we move on.”

Garcia apologised for his actions and Tommy Fleetwood believes his Ryder Cup team-mate will “feel terrible” about the incident.

“I know Sergio very, very well,” Fleetwood said in a press conference ahead of the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-am.

“Whatever he’s done in the spur of the moment he will clearly regret. And of course, it’s not good when it’s affected other players.

“I’m over it. Like it didn’t affect me at all, but it’s not great and it’s not coming across in a great light and I know there’s a lot of bad press about it. And I know for sure he will feel terrible about it.”

Meanwhile, defending champion Brandon Stone will be joined by Russell Knox and Lee Westwood in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open from 8-14 July.

The trio all secured maiden Rolex Series victories in 2018 and South African Stone, home favourite Knox and Englishman Westwood will all be seeking to add to that tally at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian. Knox, from Inverness, said: “It’s always a pleasure to play in front of your home crowd, the extra energy the Scottish fans give you is fantastic.” Snooker: Two Welsh players have been hit with bans following a corruption inquiry.

David John, once ranked 68 in the world, has been suspended for five years and seven months, and ordered to pay £17,000 in costs, after he admitted fixing two matches.

Jamie Jones has been banned for one year, and must pay £9,000, following his failure to report a corrupt approach.