Former Masters champion lands punishment after furious rampage smashing driver to pieces

Callum Vurley
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:27:10 +0000

Sergio Garcia's final round at Augusta National descended into chaos on Sunday when the Spaniard lost his composure spectacularly on just the second hole.

The 2017 Masters champion sliced his tee shot towards a bunker on the par-5 second, prompting an immediate explosion of frustration.

Garcia hammered his driver into the turf twice, gouging chunks from the pristine tee box.

His rage was far from spent.

The 46-year-old then struck a table supporting a green water cooler, the impact leaving his driver head hanging limply from the shaft.

He proceeded to rip the clubhead off entirely, rendering the club useless.

Despite the destruction, Garcia somehow salvaged par on the hole.

The outburst did not go unnoticed by tournament officials.

Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competition committee, approached Garcia on the fourth hole to deliver a formal code of conduct warning, according to the Associated Press.

The consequences extend beyond mere admonishment.

Garcia must now complete the remainder of Sunday's round without his driver, a significant handicap on Augusta National's demanding layout.

This was not even his first display of temper during the week.

During Friday's second round, the Spaniard veered into the bushes on the ninth hole and slammed his driver against the pine straw, remaining hidden whilst his playing partners continued their tee shots.

Garcia's volatile temperament has long been documented on the professional circuit.

He was disqualified from the 2019 Saudi International after damaging greens during a bunker tantrum.

At last year's Open Championship, he snapped his driver in similar fashion during the final round.

His catalogue of incidents stretches back decades, including making an obscene gesture towards spectators at the 2002 US Open and injuring his shoulder after striking a bush at the 2017 Open.

The Spaniard entered Sunday's play a distant 16 strokes behind the leaders, rendering his outburst all the more perplexing.

He proceeded to bogey three of his opening five holes, though ironically managed to par the second where the destruction occurred.