News
Sergio Garcia DQd for “serious misconduct” after damaging greens at Saudi International
Sergio Garcia has been disqualified from the Saudi International after violating rule 1.2a, the European Tour said in a statement.
The rule allows for player disqualification in instances of serious misconduct.
According to Martin Dempster of the Scotsman, players behind Garcia alerted rules officials to the damage during the third round, which resulted in a meeting with chief executive Keith Pelley following the conclusion of the Spaniard’s round.
Garcia, who opened the competition at Royal Greens G&CC with rounds of 69, 70, said in the statement
“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 had already taken his frustrations out on a bunker during the tournament’s second round and indicated the course’s paspalum greens weren’t to his liking earlier in the week.
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Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
So, with a couple of weeks off following his latest start at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Thomas sought to re-address his driver setup with the remote help of Titleist Tour fitting expert J.J. Van Wezenbeeck. About two weeks ago, Thomas and Van Wezenbeeck reviewed his recent driver stats, and discussed via phone call some possible driver and shaft combinations for him to try.
After receiving Van Wezenbeeck’s personalized shipment of product options while at home, Thomas found significant performance improvements with Titleist’s TSR2 head, equipped with Thomas’ familiar Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60 TX shaft.
Compared to Thomas’ longtime TSR3 model, the TSR2 has a larger footprint and offers slightly higher spin and launch characteristics.
According to Van Wezenbeeck, Thomas has picked up about 2-3 mph of ball speed, to go along with 1.5 degrees higher launch and more predictable mishits.
“I’d say I’d been driving it fine, not driving it great, so I just wanted to, honestly, just test or try some stuff,” Thomas said on Tuesday in an interview with GolfWRX.com at Quail Hollow Club. “I had used that style of head a couple years ago (Thomas used a TSi2 driver around 2021); I know it’s supposed to have a little more spin. Obviously, yeah, I’d love to hit it further, but if I can get a little more spin and have my mishits be a little more consistent, I felt like obviously that’d be better for my driving…
“This (TSR2) has been great. I’ve really, really driven it well the week I’ve used it. Just hitting it more solid, I don’t know if it’s the look of it or what it is, but just a little bit more consistent with the spin numbers. Less knuckle-ball curves. It has been fast. Maybe just a little faster than what I was using. Maybe it could be something with the bigger head, maybe mentally it looks more forgiving.”
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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DaveJ
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:55 pm
As someone who suffers from fits of rage myself, I can tell you that it isn’t something you can just stop doing. You can work to control it and mask it, but at some point your anger will get the better of you. You are immediately embarrassed and regretful but in the moment it can be impossible to get away from it. That being said, it was right to DQ him and he should probably be fined/suspended as well because the behavior can’t be condoned.
Tom
Feb 4, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Tiger swore and threw clubs, was never suspended or penalized now was he?
JP
Feb 6, 2019 at 10:18 pm
And that has what to do with Sergio damaging greens? Completely different offenses.
Cm
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:45 pm
I can’t decide till I see the pictures of the greens. Still think Rahm is far worse slamming clubs regularly.
joro
Feb 4, 2019 at 12:38 pm
La la la, same old thing. He has a fit, reacts with a negative and then apologizes “I weel never do eet again, that is until next time. Face it, Sergio is nothing but a spoiled brat who thinks the World is against him and says so. Of course he does nothing to change that with his according to the pitiful “talking Heads” announcers who refer to his actions as the Fiery Spaniard. Fiery my fat ass, he is a spoiled little brat.
Suspend him for a few tournaments and see how bit the fire is after that.
Dr Remo
Feb 4, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Garcia deserves it.
Wish the same conduct standards applied to tennis…..e.g. Serena Williams’ outbursts and physically threatening line judges are a disgrace and should result in suspension.
Darryl
Feb 4, 2019 at 7:19 am
Whilst he’s no worse for losing his temper than any other of a dozen reasonably big name players out there, it’s what he does when he loses his temper that baffles. Petulance is one thing when you break your driver or putter over your knee, it’s another thing completely when you damage the playing surfaces, also the fact he did it on multiple greens. Ok, the red mist came down and he did something stupid in the first instance, he realises his mistake, apologises profusely, offers to WD and/or waive appearance fee, case closed. But to do it over and over again? Referee should have hauled him up for it at the very least. Disappointed the European tour haven’t announced at least a token ban. Surely they have to take into account the fact that he has very nearly injured spectators in the past. Apologists can no longer even say “it’s just frustration from never having won a major”, which always used to be the line. Monty was a properly bad tempered SOB when he played poorly and famously never won a proper major (face the facts, Champions tour), but I don’t remember him every carving a green up or throwing a club in a dangerous fashion, or fouling the hole. I’ve been a Sergio fan a long time and really enjoyed watching him break his major duck at Augusta in 2017, but he’s becoming impossible to justify supporting.
GolfConsumer
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:13 am
Callaway should drop his immature a__.
Thats it, I’m not buying another piece of Callaway golf equipment until they drop him!
jgpl001
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Anger, frustration, well we have all experienced that
Kick your bag, slam a club, swear, we have all done that
Damaging the golf course – WAY OUT OF ORDER, NOT ACCEPTABLE
Ban the brat
Chris
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Y’all are hating because you have immunity online. Be quiet, everyone gets mad. Go wash your super cavity back irons that you still shank.
JP
Feb 4, 2019 at 12:47 am
And the fact that many of us play SGI irons and aren’t good golfers justifies Sergio in some way? Please explain.
john
Feb 5, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Very mature response. Not.
There’s getting mad and there’s getting mad. Sergio damaged five green – something I assume you’d be unhappy at if it was a member of your club doing it. Garcia has a hugely privileged life and the least he can do is act like the role model he is to many young golfers. Sergio seems like a decent enough guy, if a little emotional. I’m sure he’ll be hugely embarrassed by how he acted and would accept any criticism that comes his way.
Dave C.
Feb 3, 2019 at 6:37 am
Many millions of dollars usually make most people jerks.
Golf pros, football players, capitalists, old money, new money.
Chip2Win
Feb 3, 2019 at 8:38 am
I’m pretty sure there are lots of poor people who are jerks too.
Central Oregon Golf
Feb 2, 2019 at 11:34 pm
I hope he never wins again. Should have kicked him off the course immediately instead of after round. Agree on more severe penalty in the way of suspension, fine, and maintenance fee to fix & improve course. Maybe the tours should sponsor anger management as well?!
Safe Hans
Feb 12, 2019 at 8:03 am
Totally agree, he should be serving a ban for what he did – a serious lack of respect to the course and our game.
Johnny Rebel
Feb 2, 2019 at 9:50 pm
Sergio acts like a n igger when he doesn’t get his way.
AC in TX
Feb 2, 2019 at 9:26 pm
I damage greens all the time – it’s called hitting it fat … very fat.
JP
Feb 3, 2019 at 10:23 am
Either you don’t know the difference between greens and fairways, or you really have no business putting.
Jose Pinatas
Feb 2, 2019 at 5:15 pm
Can someone post a video of this? I love Sergio meltdowns, super entertaining..
JP
Feb 2, 2019 at 9:34 pm
Yeah, I’d like to see what kind of damage he caused with a putter and how he tried to disguise it as normal play. What a JackA$$
Oldplayer
Feb 2, 2019 at 4:26 pm
This behavior shows the character of the guy much more than any words.
What a spoiled brat. He’s off my list for sure.
Benjamin Kaiser
Feb 3, 2019 at 8:47 am
True dat
Nolan
Feb 2, 2019 at 3:18 pm
He’s lucky the Prince didn’t make him disappear.
cdj
Feb 2, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Year back at Tour Championship SG hit a drive from tee box where I was at the time. Shot started on a good line to which I responded “good shot” or the like. He did not like where it ended up and looked at me saying “yeah, nice shot” in his snarky voice while slamming the tee marker.
Dude has Jameis Winston syndrome.
Acemandrake
Feb 2, 2019 at 1:18 pm
No gratitude for God-given & earthly riches.
When will he grow up?
Robert
Feb 4, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Will he EVER grow up. No more Callaway or Adidas until he is gone.
Kolby
Feb 2, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Suspend Sergio Garcia from both Tours until AFTER Augusta! LOL
Johnny balls
Feb 2, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Paspalum sucks. Saudi Arabia sucks. No booze. Screw that place.
francisco borja lopez diez
Feb 4, 2019 at 7:27 am
The players had a yacht next to their hotel in which they were being served alcohol afer 9 pm…and 25 girls to entertain from Russia, Poland…
They had a concert with Mariah Carey as well as a dj session form DJ Tiesto. The country may not be your favorite place, but be sure these guys were treated much better than a regular tourist
john
Feb 11, 2019 at 11:33 am
A Mariah Carey concert sounds like ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ to me. Might explain Sergio’s meltdown.
stevez
Feb 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm
I thought I read he was happily married, new baby, and Masters Champ. Wass the problem now
Alan Schwepps
Feb 2, 2019 at 12:32 pm
Gee I wonder if he’s going to get fined more than $98,000 that Li got dinged for his asinine rule violation.
Make him pay to fix the green’s and fine him $250,000 for being a douche nozzle….
dat
Feb 2, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Pathetic, this isn’t a drunken muni round, Sergio.
Rory O Donnell
Feb 2, 2019 at 11:14 am
Spitting into holes and now this
Bert Gwaltney
Feb 2, 2019 at 10:09 am
Sometimes I’m confused about “like” or “shank” If I click “like” does that mean I like that he was DQ’ed or “like” what he did. If I click “shank” does that mean I don’t agree with the DQ or agree with it.
Maybe it’s rather I “like or shank” the article?
I’m glad he was DQ’ed, and yes he’s had it coming for a long time. Good on you European Tour. Maybe the PGA Tour will see your example of enforcing the Rules of Golf.
Denny Jones
Feb 2, 2019 at 9:17 am
DQ like this should be swift and have more bite. Instead of just a DQ, the penalty should be more severe. If they weren’t allow to participate in a major because of a fit of rage, the rage would disappear.
joe
Feb 2, 2019 at 10:04 am
Im a Sergio fan but I agree with you. This act stresses my affinity for him. And he is habitual so maybe a 3 event suspension?
Bert Gwaltney
Feb 2, 2019 at 10:17 am
Again he has embarrassed himself, displayed his lack of respect for the game and fellow competitors. I’ve had tried to accept his behavior as being immature, or having a fiery Spaniard temperament, but this goes past that.
Sad news for the game and Champion golfer. I suspect he will lose all respect from those who love and support the game, the patrons.
Mower
Feb 2, 2019 at 12:26 pm
“I damaged a couple of greens.” WTF!?
Yeah, time to crack down on this shit.