Report: Garcia to forgo Saudi International appearance fee 1 year after DQ
Sergio Garcia will forgo an appearance fee during his return to Saudi Arabia in 2020 after his heavily scrutinized disqualification in February, according to The Telegraph's James Corrigan.
The 39-year-old Spaniard was kicked out of the inaugural Saudi International for purposely damaging multiple greens by dragging his feet. He wasn't suspended for his actions, but one of the conditions placed on him by the European Tour was to play in the tournament in 2020 without an appearance fee, according to Corrigan.
Garcia wasn't asked to pay back any of his 2019 appearance fee, which was in the range of $640,000, despite his actions.
The day before his disqualification, he was spotted smashing his club in a bunker.
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
In addition to Garcia, Brooks Koepka and defending champion Dustin Johnson have also committed to the controversial Saudi Arabian event.