Golf news - Brooks Koepka tells Sergio Garcia to 'grow up' after Saudi meltdown

ByEurosport

Updated 06/02/2019 at 09:45 GMT

Three-times major champion Brooks Koepka has publicly rebuked Sergio Garcia for a temper tantrum at the European Tour's Saudi International on Saturday, and says it is time for the Spaniard to "grow up".

Garcia was disqualified from the event after the third round for what the tour deemed "serious misconduct" under rule 1.2a.

"I respect the decision of my disqualification. In frustration, I damaged a couple of greens, for which I apologise for, and I have informed my fellow players it will never happen again," Garcia said in a statement released by the tour.

In addition, video surfaced on social media of Garcia slamming his club into the sand three times after a mediocre bunker shot, and angrily speaking in Spanish as he departed the trap.

Masters

Scheffler says golf 'fourth in line' after clinching second Masters title

15/04/2024 at 08:52

"That's just Sergio acting like a child," Koepka said in interview with the Playing Through podcast on Tuesday.

"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.

"I mean, you're 40 years old, so you've got to grow up eventually."

Brooks Koepka (US Open 2018)

Image credit: Getty Images

Garcia is 39.

Koepka finished equal 57th in the inaugural event won by fellow American Dustin Johnson.

The tournament, at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, attracted a star-studded field -- including four of the world's five top-ranked players -- by paying out large appearance fees.

Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, seemed to have mellowed after finally tasting major success, getting married and becoming a father, all within 12 months of each other.

Koepka, the reigning U.S. Open and PGA champion, did not play with Garcia, and learned about the behaviour of his peer only afterwards.

"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," Koepka said.

"It's not setting a good example and it's not cool to us, showing us no respect." (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

Masters

Woods breaks Masters record with 24th consecutive cut at Augusta National

13/04/2024 at 08:46

Golf

'I think I can get one more' - Tiger eyeing 16th major victory at Masters

00:02:04

|

10/04/2024 at 13:55

The Players Championship

Scheffler makes history, Rory’s drama – What we learned from The Players Championship

20/03/2024 at 15:46