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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News
Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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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.