AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – Sergio Garcia broke his driver on the second hole at Augusta National during the final round of the Masters on Sunday, leading to a code-of-conduct warning, marking a first in the tournament’s history.
The incident followed a series of frustrations for Garcia, who was paired with fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm. Despite the tension, he later lightened the mood by carrying Rahm’s clubs for a brief period.
Incident Details
During the round, Garcia’s first shot of the day veered significantly to the right, resulting in an opening bogey. His subsequent drive on the par-5 second hole headed toward a bunker, prompting an outburst of frustration.
In a moment of anger, Garcia struck the ground with his club twice and hit a nearby table, causing the head of his driver to detach from the shaft. He then completely removed the driver head.
Code-of-Conduct Warning
Geoff Yang, chairman of the competitions committee, approached Garcia on the fourth tee to issue the warning. Garcia chose not to disclose the details of their conversation, stating, “I’m not going to tell you.”
The Masters is the first tournament to implement a new code-of-conduct policy, which the PGA Tour is developing for its events. The policy outlines that a second violation would incur a two-shot penalty, while a third would result in disqualification.
Garcia’s Previous Incidents
Garcia’s history of on-course outbursts includes a disqualification in 2019 for damaging greens at the Saudi International. His previous antics also feature an incident in 2001 when he kicked off his shoe in frustration, nearly hitting an official.
He has also been known to exhibit poor sportsmanship, such as spitting into a cup during a World Golf Championship after a poor putt.
Final Round Performance
After the incident with his driver, Garcia completed the final round without it, utilizing a 3-wood instead. He remarked, “It makes it very easy. I just have to hit 3-wood all the time.”
Despite the earlier frustrations, Garcia managed to make par on the second hole before bogeying the third and fourth, ultimately finishing the round with a score of 75.
Lighthearted Moment
Following the incident, Garcia lightened the atmosphere by carrying Rahm’s bag while Rahm’s caddie raked the bunker. The crowd responded with applause as Rahm took back his bag and continued play.
Garcia’s Reflection
Reflecting on his behavior, Garcia stated, “Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens.” He acknowledged the importance of maintaining composure to perform well, noting, “If you don’t hit good shots, you’re not going to score well here. It’s very simple.”