The Loop

Garcia cleared of illegally tapping down spike mark (Updated)

January 16, 2014

__Update, Friday a.m.:__The European Tour has cleared Garcia of any wrongdoing after Garcia explained he was legally flattening a pitch mark. The tour brought the player in to review footage when he arrived at National Course for his second round. In a statement, the tour said "[Rules official] John Paramor is satisfied with Sergio's version of the matter and that is the end of the issue."

Earlier: Watch out, we might have another European Tour spike mark-tapping controversy on our hands. And this time, it involves Sergio Garcia.

A video surfaced Thursday of Sergio Garica tapping down what may have been a spike mark in his line on the 14th hole of his first round at the HSBC Championship. Garcia shot four over 76 on Thursday, leaving him T-104 after one round.