Sergio Garcia To Be First Masters Champions To Receive A Dedicated Walking Official

Beset by regular run-ins with the rules of golf and etiquette, Masters Chairman Fred Ridley has enlisted a retired USGA official to serve as Sergio Garcia’s personal walking rules official for next week’s Masters.

“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,” Chairman Ridley said in a statement. “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.”

The decision to enlist a personal rules valet is a big one given Augusta National’s preference for only seeing players and caddies inside the ropes. Normally rulings are administered by officials roving throughout the course after a player calls them in to assess a situation.

The call was made by Chairman Ridley soon after Garcia’s disqualification at the European Tour’s Saudi Arabia stop for damaging greens. Augusta National reportedly considered appointing a second dedicated official after Saturday’s Dell Match Play dust-up when Garcia raked a putt away before Matt Kuchar could concede the tap-in.

Several Twitter users 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, Emily Post’s Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home, and the Richmond County civil code.

The Forecaddie reports that Meeks has told friends he will be trailing Garcia both on and off the course, also ensuring the 2017 Champion does not violate any of Augusta National’s many house rules or even the Augusta, Georgia speed limits.