Sergio Gets A Chaperone For The Masters Next Week

This one is unprecedented in the history of Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters.

The tournament with A Tradition Unlike Any Other, has made a decision Unlike Any Other.

Masters Chairman Fred Ridley, pretty much like the rest of us, couldn’t help but notice the really, really bad behavior by Sergio Garcia in Saudi Arabia.  So bad that there were rumors the Saudis were contemplating inviting Sergio to dinner at their embassy in Turkey, but those were just rumors.

Then came more Spanish Shenanigans in the match with Matt Kuchar when Sergio decided to hockey-puck a four-inch putt that happened to lip out before good old Kuch could concede the hole.  Deal is in match play, you look at your opponent to check for the concession.  Sergio didn’t do that and the official accompanying the group made the call.

Of course Sergio threw one of his patented hissy-fits, stomped and brooded, tried the make the rest of the match personal then after things were all done, got all kissy and huggy with Kuch and the pair claimed all was forgiven, act like it didn’t happen.

Sergio’s tantrums have garnered a lot of attention.

After the Saudi Arabia incident, three-time major champion Brooks Koepka didn’t hold back:

“To act like a child out there is not cool. It’s not setting a good example and it’s not cool to us, showing us no respect or anybody else. That’s just Sergio acting like a child.  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. You’re 40 years old so you gotta grow up eventually.”

Thank-you Brooks and apparently Chairman Ridley is pretty much on board.

Chairman Ridley has issued this nugget:

“We have such a strong affinity for our Champions and want to make sure that Sergio Garcia feels welcome both on the course and off.  Keeping in line with the vision of our founders, it is essential we make sure that Sergio has the best possible experience at the 2019 Masters.”

Here’s our real-world translation DogLeg translation of Ridley’s statement:

“Sergio Garcia has been acting like a jackass too many times in our opinion.  We expect better of our Masters champions.  Our Masters champions represent Augusta National, on and off the grounds and we expect them to act with the honor and dignity that goes with the Green Jacket.  So we’re going to make sure that Sergio doesn’t get out-of-line during the tournament, on and off the course, of course!” 

So what do the powers-that-be at Augusta National have in store?

Chairman Ridley is bringing in a retired USGA official to serve as Sergio Garcia’s personal walking rules official for next week.  That decision to use a personal rules valet, aka babysitter,  is a big one given Augusta National’s preference for only seeing players and caddies inside the ropes. Normally rulings are taken care of by an assortment of officials from the club, the PGA Tour, the USGA and the R&A  roaming the the course after a player calls them for a rules decision.

The call was made by Chairman Ridley after Sergio’s beserko behavior in Saudi Arabia when he started tearing up putting greens.  Augusta National reportedly considered appointing a second dedicated official after the nonsense in Austin on Saturday.

Spies from the golf world have posted photos of former USGA director of rules and competitions Tom Meeks preparing at a local Indianapolis library, where he was seen reading Clifford Roberts’ Story Of Augusta National Golf Club.

Evidently Meeks told some of his buddies that he’ll be eyeballing Garcia both on and off the course, also ensuring the 2017 Champion does not violate any of Augusta National’s many house rules.

So basically Sergio, they’re telling you in no uncertain terms that you should be totally ashamed of yourself and you better curb yourself next week.

Simple as that.