In control method and apparatus for a direct injection spark ignited internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injection valve configured to perform an injection of fuel through an engine cylinder and a spark plug, a super retard combustion comprising: an ignition through the spark plug at a timing after a compression top dead center; and at least once fuel injection in which the injection of fuel is started at a timing after the compression top dead center and before the ignition, during a cold start of the engine, is executed, and an execution of the super retard combustion is inhibited for a predetermined interval of time immediately after the cold start of the engine.