Garcia: Saudi behaviour ‘is not who I truly am’

Sergio Garcia issued a fresh apology as the Spaniard prepared to tee up for the first time since his sensational disqualification from the recent Saudi International for serious misconductashedamaged five greens.

“I want to again say I’m sorry to my fans and fellow competitors,” said the 39-year-old ahead of his return to action in the Genesis Open, this week’s PGA Tour event, in Los Angeles. “What happened is not an example I want to set, and it’s not who I truly am.”

Garcia, who escaped a suspension, was accused of “acting like a child” by three-time major winner Brooks Koepka as he took a divot out of one green and damaged others by dragging the sole of his shoe over the putting surface in the third round at Royal Greens on the Red Sea coast.

“I am an emotional player and, while I believe that’s one of my biggest strengths, it’s also one of my biggest flaws,” added Garcia in a post on social media. “I’m focused on working hard to channel that emotion the correct way and to be the best me, learn from it and move forward.”

The 2017 Masters champion lines up in a field that also includes Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy, the duo having been paired together in the opening two rounds for the second year running at Riviera Country Club.

If last year is anything to go by, Mcilroy could be putting some painkillers in his golf bag.

“It might always have been like this, like the whole Tiger mania and these dudes, but I swear, playing in front of all that, he [Woods] gives up half a shot a day on the field,” said the Northern Irishman at the halfway stage 12 months ago.

“It’s two shots a tournamenthehastogivebecause of all that goes on around. So, whether that calms down the more he plays and it doesn’t become such a novelty that he’s back out playing again, I don’t know. But it’s tiring. I need a couple Advil. I’ve got a headache after all that.”