Triple Major winning Brooks Koepka has pulled no punches in declaring Sergio Garcia acted ‘like a child’ following controversy at last week’s inaugural Saudi International where the Spaniard was disqualified from the event for damaging a number of greens.
Garia later issued an apology and with the European Tour’s CEO, Keith Pelley accepting the apology.
However, and much to the surprise of many observers, the 2017 Masters champion avoided a fine and also a suspension and this given the now 39-year old’s lost history of petulance on the golf course including wilful damage to the panelling on a scorer’s hut at last year’s PGA Tour Valspar Championship at Tampa, Florida.
Garcia left Saudi Arabia on Sunday and later spoke to a Spanish news agency declaring: “What happened this week is not something I am proud of.
Brrooks Koepka does not hold back in declaring Sergio Garcia acted like a child in last week’s Saudi International. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“We are all human, and we all make mistakes, but the important thing is to learn from them. The mistake is not learning from mistakes.”
Koepka, like Garcia, was paid a hefty appearance fee to also compete last week in Saudi Arabia where the American eventually finished in a share of 57th place.
But in speaking to ‘Playing Through’, the reigning U.S. Open and PGA Championship winner heavily criticised Garcia for his Saudi actions.
“That’s just Sergio acting like a child,” Koepka said.
“It’s unfortunate that he’s got to do that and complain. 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’ve got to grow up eventually.”
Koepke had been two groups ahead of Garcia in last Saturday’s third round so he was not aware of the greens Garcia is alleged to have damaged but soon learnt of Garcia’s actions later that day.
“To act like a child out there is not cool,” Koepka said. “It’s not setting a good example and it’s not cool to us, showing us no respect or anybody else.”
Garcia is expected to return to competition at next week’s PGA Tour Genesis Open at Riviera in suburban Los Angeles.
