News
Sergio Garcia looks set to avoid European Tour suspension following his DQ at the Saudi International
According to a report from Martin Dempster at The Scotsman, Sergio Garcia will receive no suspension following his disqualification for “serious misconduct” at the Saudi International.
Following the news that Sergio Garcia had been DQ’d as a result of purposefully damaging the greens in Saudi Arabia, many golf fans took to social media, calling for a lengthy suspension for the Spaniard as well as a forfeit of his appearance money. However, as per the report, Garcia will face no further punishment.
The signs emerged during Friday’s round that something was off with Garcia when he lost control and swiped his club repeatedly at an unraked bunker before audibly swearing in Spanish.
Sergio Garcia’s meltdown in a Royal Greens bunker a day prior to his disqualification for vandalism work on five greens. Story by @SkySportsGolf fills in details. Translations welcomed! https://t.co/UoGmPtTOz4 pic.twitter.com/dQMDN7y2PC
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) February 4, 2019
The following day, Garcia was found guilty of dragging the soles of his shoes into a handful of putting greens, not repairing a divot, and causing damage to the putting surfaces.
Following his DQ, the Spaniard stated “I respect the decision of my disqualification. I damaged a couple of greens, for which I apologize for, and I have informed my fellow players it will never happen again”. Garcia also apologized immediately after to players in the groups behind for his behaviour.
Those apologies look set to be enough for Garcia to escape greater punishment, as per the Scotsman, European Tour CEO Keith Pelley has now appeared to put the incident to bed, saying
“The incident is over. We have dealt with it. Sergio has apologized to the players and we move on.”
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Morning 9: Is it Rory’s time? | Stricker WDs | Why Valhalla is a great major venue
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News
Tour Rundown: Rose blooms, Rory rolls
This week last year, I found myself praying to the weather goddesses and gods that Rochester would be spared their wrath over the next seven days. The 2023 Oak Hill PGA Championship (that was slated for August when the contract was signed) was on the horizon, and I wanted my region to show well. Things turned out fine, with all four seasons making an appearance, a PGA Professional (Blockie!) stealing hearts, and a proven champion in Koepka (although I was pulling for Viktor.)
This year, no concerns. Louisville will shine this week at Valhalla, but we’ve matters to consider before we look to four days of coverage this week. Nelly did not win on the LPGA this week, so who did? The PGA Tour held two events in the Carolinas, and Tour Champions celebrated a major event in Alabama. Four noteworthy events to run down, so let’s head to RunDownTown and take care of business.
LPGA @ Founders Cup: Rose blooms
There was a sense that Rose Zhang might have a role in the 2020s version of the LPGA. After winning everything there was in amateur golf, she came out and won her first tournament as a professional. That was last May and, let’s be honest, who among us thought it would take 12 months for Zhang to win again? Rhymes with hero, I know.
This week in New Jersey, eyes were on Nelly Korda, as she made a run at a sixth consecutive win on the LPGA circuit. Korda ran out of gas on Saturday, and that was just fine. Madelene Sagstrom and Zhang had turned the soiree at Upper Montclair into a battle of birdies. Gabriela Ruffels came third at nine-under par. No one else reached double digits under par but Sagstrom and Zhang. They didn’t just reach -10…they more than doubled it.
Sagstrom had the look of a winner with five holes left to play. She was three shots clear of Zhang, at 23-under par. The Swede played her closing quintet in plus-one, finishing at 22-deep, 13 shots ahead of Ruffels. That performance we’d anticipated from Zhang? It happened on Sunday. She closed with four birdies in five holes to snatch victory number two, by two shots. Spring is a lovely time for a Rose in bloom.
Take a look back at hole No. 1… @rosezhang is living life on the edge ? pic.twitter.com/o6z6SK7TRA
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Wells Fargo: Rory the Fourth is crowned in Charlotte
Xander Schauffele is a likable lad. He has an Olympic gold medal on his shelf, and a few PGA Tour titles to his credit. Even X knows that even par won’t get much done in a final round unless conditions are brutal. They weren’t brutal at Quail Hollow on Sunday. X posted even par on day four. It kept him ahead of third-place finisher Byeong Hun An but gave him zero chance of challenging for the title.
Paired with Xander in round four was the King of Quail, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had previously won thrice at the North Carolina track, and he was champing at the bit to gain some momentum on the road to Louisville. While Xander scored increasingly worse along the week (64-67-70-71) McIlroy saved his best round for the final round. Thanks to five birdies and two eagles, McIlroy ran away with the event, winning his fourth Wells Fargo by five over Schauffele.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Myrtle Beach Classic: a little CG won the inaugural week
It always seemed odd that the PGA Tour had zero stops along the Grand Strand each season. This week’s event seemed odd in that the golfers played the same course each day, and there were zero handicaps involved. Most events at Myrtle Beach involve hundreds of amateurs at dozens of courses, with all sorts of handicaps.
The Dunes Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, down toward Pawley’s Island. It claims what used to be considered an unreachable, par-five hole, the watery 13th. Nothing is unreachable any longer, including a 22-under par total for a six-shot win. Chris Gotterup, a former Rutgers and Oklahoma golfer, played sizzling golf all week and won by a sextet of shots. Gotterup opened with 66, then improved to 64 on Friday. His Saturday 65 sounded a beacon of “come get me,” and his closing 67 ensured that second place was the only thing up for grabs.
Chasing the podium’s second level were a bunch of young Americans. In the end, Alastair Docherty and Davis Thompson reached 16-deep, thanks to rounds of 64 and 68 on Sunday. They held off six golfers at 15-under par. The victory was Gotterup’s first on tour and should be enough to get him a Wikipedia page, among other plaudits.
Leader by SIX!
@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachC pic.twitter.com/TVdA6ZPYc4— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Regions Traditions: Vindication for Dougie
Doug Barron, if I recall correctly, was suspended by the Powers That Be, way back in 2009, for testosterone. He was naturally low in the hormone, so he took supplements. This did not sit well with certain admins, so he was put on the shelf for 18 months. Not cool.
In 2019, Barron came out on the Tour Champions. He won in August. The next year, despite the craziness of Covid, he won again. Barron hit a dry spell for a few years. He kept his card, but accrued no additional victories. In late April, Barron showed serious signs of life, with a t2 at Mitsubishi. This week in Birmingham, he jumped out to a lead, lost it, then gained it back on Saturday. With major championship glory on the line, Barron brought the train into the station with 68 on Sunday.
Stephen Alker, the man who could not lose just two years ago, gave serious chase with a closing 63. He moved up 11 slots, into solo 2nd on Sunday. He finished two shots back of the champion. Two shots ain’t much. Cough once and you drop a pair. Third place saw a three-way tie, including last year’s winner (Steve Stricker) and runner-up (Ernie Els.) Despite the intimidating presence of the game’s greats, however, Doug Barron had more than enough of everything this week, and he has a third Tour Champions title to show off.
At the @RegionsTrad, all champions receive a green bike.
Doug Barron decided to take a victory lap ? pic.twitter.com/bEzENMjZwv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 13, 2024
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BigGolfConsumer
Feb 4, 2019 at 10:41 pm
I am banning all Callaway golf products until such time as Sergio Garcia is terminated from Callaway! Come on Callaway, step up and do the right thing! Golf courses, especially greens are sacred places for those of us that love golf!
Doug McManus
Feb 5, 2019 at 10:27 am
A little Harsh! we all lose our tempers and make mistakes. We have no idea what else was going on with Sergio, that day or that week? He apologized, he new he was wrong case closed!
Big Worm
Feb 4, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Seems like what Sergio did (has also done in the past) is much more serious than what Kevin Kisner did to get suspended from his home club. Not sure the golfing world would lose much if he just went away permanently.
Tom
Feb 4, 2019 at 2:15 pm
When Tiger swore and threw clubs, he was never suspended, was he?
b
Feb 5, 2019 at 4:40 am
tiger haven’t destroyed anything nor spit in the hole, did he? Maybe in the hotel, but…
Chipsjusonce
Feb 4, 2019 at 2:13 pm
This is why you don’t read text’s from the Ex before the round… lessons to be learned…
J
Feb 4, 2019 at 2:04 pm
thats golf lol! we need him for entertainment!
B
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Come on, players like so should be banned forever. That’s pretty much like speeding on the motorway with the potential to bring death to the innocent people. Spitting in the hole, throwing shoe, clubs, now destroying greens? The whole league of PGA pros keep their ethics just to be tainted by one bad apple.
jimg
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:51 pm
My God, what a baby! The European has lost a load of credibility by taking no further action. A member of any club would face sanction or possible complete prohibition for this type of temper tantrum. Sergio should forfeit appearance fee AND be fined at least 100K – which should be turned over to the host golf course. What a message the supposed Leaders of the Game are giving to junior golfers. Perhaps the USGA, the PGA Tour, and or the Masters will step up and rescind invitations … Dear Mr. Ridley; …
Ramiro
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:41 pm
“If there is someone who has never sinned can start by throwing the first stone”
TONEY P
Feb 4, 2019 at 12:20 pm
I was a Sergio fan but not anymore, he needs to be suspended for a month or two. Doing damage to the course intentionally is, on a few greens , signs of a breakdown and for a professional to do so affecting the play of others pro’s. Even at a mini course they would ban that person for a while.
Stixman
Feb 4, 2019 at 11:24 am
I think the governing bodies of both PGA and European Tours are totally spineless, gutless and ruled by expediency, not principle. Both FIGJAM and Garcia should have face lengthy punitive bans for their lapses in civilised behaviour.
2putttom
Feb 4, 2019 at 10:57 am
those actions remind me of men’s league.
JP
Feb 4, 2019 at 10:14 am
WHY isn’t he suspended from any future events?
the dude
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:50 am
pics of the greens???
dat
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:47 am
Pathetic manchild. I’ve seen this bunker stuff AS A JOKE on muni courses, where you can repair the damage with a rake. On a green though??
golf golf golf
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:41 am
That was a funny outburst. It gets better every time you watch it, and I’ve watched it a bunch. He’s a boob, a cry baby. There should be some suspension time for the damage to the greens. That’s completely unacceptable.
Bryan
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:29 am
This guy is a bratty child trapped in a mans body.
bj
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:27 am
Damn that tantrum was funny!!! There was clearly a gopher running around in the bunker he was tray to dispatch
Mower
Feb 4, 2019 at 11:19 am
lol, that’s what I was thinkin.