Sergio Garcia has offered a grovelling apology for his fiery behaviour at the Masters. Many called for the Spaniard, who won the green jacket back in 2017, to be banned from Augusta after he damaged the tee-box of hole two in the fourth round.

He was furious with himself after a reckless drive veered away from his target area, smashing the floor with his driver, before going on to break it by whacking a plastic box filled with drinks. Geoff Yang, the new chairman of the competitions committee, walked over and gave him a code of conduct warning. After he finished 52nd in Georgia, Garcia's fury extended into his post-match interviews, where he refused to answer some questions and offered abrupt answers the ones he did respond to. Today, having stewed on his antics for a couple of days, he sent an apology on social media.

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In a statement uploaded to X, he wrote: "I want to apologise for my actions on Sunday at the Masters tournament. I respect and value everything that the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to Golf.

"I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for the Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world."

When his round finished, ESPN reporter and television host Mike Greenberg urged those at Augusta to ban him from the esteemed course for good. He tweeted: "A lifetime exemption is a privilege extended by Augusta to its champions out of respect.

"If that respect is not reciprocated, there is no law that says a past champ cannot be banned. I'm not sure they should have Sergio Garcia back after the garbage he pulled today."

In the aftermath of his disastrous tournament, which saw him finish on eight over par, 20 strokes behind eventual winner Rory McIlroy, Garcia did admit he was not happy with his behaviour. He did, however, stop short of apologising.

When asked about his heated antics, he said: "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens." When asked if he was given a warning by Geoff Yang, the chairman of the Masters competition committee who confronted Garcia after his actions at the second hole, Garcia replied: "I'm not going to tell you." When probed again by a different reporter, he replied: "Next question, please."

Garcia's 2017 triumph means he is allowed to compete in the prestigious major whenever he pleases. He was one of the first players to join the LIV Golf Tour, with reports claiming the Spaniard was paid a $40m signing on fee to join the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund backed tour.

He is expected to participate in the upcoming LIV event in Mexico this weekend.