Garcia Apologises After Smashing Driver in Masters Meltdown

Garcia issued code of conduct warning after tee box meltdown

Sergio Garcia apologised after smashing his driver at the Masters second tee, snapping the shaft. He played without it, shot 75, and got a conduct warning.

  

Sergio Garcia apologises for Masters outburst after breaking driver in frustration...

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia apologised Tuesday for his final-round conduct at Augusta, after smashing and breaking his driver on the second tee in frustration.

Playing alongside fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm, Garcia twice slammed his club into the turf after his tee shot on the par-5 second found the fairway bunker at Augusta National.

Still furious, he walked to a nearby cooler and took a hard swing at it, snapping the clubhead off the shaft.

“I ‌want to apologize for my actions on ⁠Sunday at The Masters ‌tournament,” Garcia said in a statement posted on X. “I respect and value everything that The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to Golf.

“I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The ⁠Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world.”

Because he damaged the club in anger, Garcia couldn’t replace it under the rules and had to play the rest of the round without a driver. He shot a three-over 75 to finish at eight over, third from last among the 54 players who made the cut.

The Masters rules and competition committee chairman issued Sergio Garcia a code of conduct warning following an incident on the 2nd hole Sunday. Garcia also picked up Jon Rahm’s golf bag while Rahm’s caddie tended to a bunker.

Garcia smashed his driver and will not be able to… pic.twitter.com/C2TZkGBDTg

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 12, 2026

The 46-year-old was spoken to by a Masters official at the fourth hole and given a code of conduct warning.

Speaking to reporters after the round, Garcia wouldn’t disclose what the official told him and gave brief replies when asked about his record at the year’s first major. Since his win, he has missed the cut in six of eight appearances.

“Bad golf,” he said.

Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner, joined LIV Golf in 2022 and has two victories on the Saudi-backed tour, Andalucia in 2024 and Hong Kong in 2025.

In 2019, Garcia was disqualified from the Saudi International for “serious misconduct” after intentionally damaging several greens.