The Masters Sergio Garcia ESP on the 7th green during the second round at the The Masters , Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 11/04/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xFranxCaffreyx *EDI*
Sergio Garcia's frustrations boiled over at the Masters. A snapped driver and damaged tee box led to a tense press conference, putting his complicated history with Augusta back in the spotlight.
When the media asked him about it on Masters Sunday, his answers were very short, but he was being very honest.
Golf account Flushing It shared the press conference clip on X on April 12 and said Garcia was “clearly very frustrated with the state of his game.” What followed in that two-minute exchange felt a bit tense.
The questions came quickly, and his answers came even quicker. "Yeah, just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens," Garcia said of the incident.
He explained the bag-carrying moment. His caddie, Benji Thompson, was holding both bags while Jon Rahm’s caddie, Adam Hayes, was raking a bunker. Garcia said he told Benji to put the bag down so he could go check the yardage. And that was it.
Then a reporter asked a tougher question. It was about Garcia’s record at Augusta since his 2017 win: no top-10 finishes and several quiet weeks at a course he once mastered. Was there a reason for it?
Garcia didn’t try to soften his answer. "Bad golf," he said.
“If you don’t hit good shots, you’re not going to score well here,” Garcia said. “It’s very simple.”
Playing without a driver for 16 holes severely limited his options.
Augusta Gave Sergio Garcia a Warning
The tee box incident didn’t go unnoticed by the people at Augusta National. Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competition committee, approached Garcia on the fourth hole and issued a formal code-of-conduct warning.
The AP confirmed the conversation happened, but no one knows what was said. Reporters asked Garcia about it at his press conference.
“I’m not going to tell you,” he said.
The rules of golf also meant Garcia could not replace the driver he broke in anger. He had to play the final 16 holes with only 13 clubs in his bag, no driver, no other option.
It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Garcia also broke his driver at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush and had to finish that round without it.
Some fans had seen enough. Posts on X even called for him to be banned from Augusta. One said, “Sergio Garcia should be banned for life from Augusta National.”
His 2017 green jacket gives him a lifetime exemption. But Sunday made one thing clear: it gets him into Augusta, not everyone’s support once he’s out there.
Trending slideshow: PGA Tour Meltdowns: When the Pros Just Snapped
Dolly Bhamrick
PGA Tour Meltdowns: When the Pros Just SnappedGolf is supposed to be a gentleman’s game — calm, patient, and composed. But even the best pros have their breaking points. From club tosses and snapped irons to unforgettable temper tantrums on the biggest stages, these moments remind us that pressure spares no one. Here are ten of the most infamous PGA Tour meltdowns caught on camera, when golf’s elite simply lost control. Reinhold Matay via ImagoTiger Woods rarely loses focus, especially on Augusta’s sacred turf. But in 2012, frustration boiled over on the par-3 16th. After a poor shot, Woods kicked his nine-iron backward in visible anger, stunning the typically hushed Masters crowd. It was a rare glimpse of Tiger’s human side — even the game’s greatest can crack when perfection slips away. Icon Sportswire/ImagoRory McIlroy is known for poise under pressure, but even he snapped at Doral. After hooking a 3-iron into the water on the 8th hole, McIlroy coolly flung the offending club into the lake — no words, just pure frustration. The moment went viral, not just for the throw, but for the fact that a diver was later sent in to retrieve it. Even the calmest champions have their breaking points. Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group/TNS/ImagoFew players have displayed raw emotion on the course like Sergio García. Whether it was spitting into a cup at the 2007 Masters, breaking clubs in Thailand, or slamming bunkers in frustration, García’s outbursts have been as consistent as his ball-striking. His fiery nature earned him both criticism and sympathy — proof that even elite talent can clash with temperament. Zuma Press Wire/ImagoBelgian star Thomas Pieters is known for power and precision, but at Wentworth in 2018, composure wasn’t on the scorecard. After a poor iron shot, Pieters folded his nine-iron clean over his neck in one motion — a move that went viral within hours. It wasn’t his first snapped club, but it remains one of the most perfectly executed meltdowns ever filmed. Photo by Masuti via IMAGO / DepositphotosFew meltdowns are as legendary as John Daly’s at Whistling Straits. On the par-3 seventh, known as “Shipwreck,” Daly dumped three consecutive shots into Lake Michigan before carding a painful 10. In classic Daly fashion, he capped the disaster by launching his club into the same lake — a moment both chaotic and iconic. A nearby fan later retrieved the club, turning one man’s rage into another’s souvenir. Potomac United States of America via IMAGO / ZUMA Press WireAt TPC Sawgrass in 2008, Charley Hoffman found himself on the wrong side of a short putt — and his temper. Missing an easy one on the 13th, he immediately flung his putter into the water without hesitation. Fans were left wondering what he used for the remaining holes, but one thing was certain: that putter wasn’t coming back. Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY SportsWhen Sam Burns hooked a drive into the trees during the FedEx St. Jude Championship, his frustration was instant and costly. One angry swing into the turf, and the driver’s head snapped clean off. Burns had to play the rest of his round without his biggest weapon — a visual reminder of how one bad swing can take out both a shot and a club. Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire/ImagoAt the 2015 U.S. Open, Billy Horschel didn’t just vent at himself — he vented at the greens. After missing another short putt on the bumpy Chambers Bay surface, he slammed his putter into the turf and gestured in disbelief at the course conditions. His frustration resonated with many players, but the moment went viral for its unfiltered honesty. Jim Dedmon/ImagoUsually calm and collected, Rickie Fowler’s patience wore thin at the 2025 Cognizant Classic after persistent heckling from the gallery. During his third round, Fowler turned to the crowd with a rare flash of anger, exchanging sharp words before walking off to reset. It wasn’t a physical meltdown, but a clear sign that even golf’s friendliest faces have limits. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsKnown as one of the tour’s most composed players, Scottie Scheffler showed his human side at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. After a frustrating hole, he slammed his club into his bag in a rare show of emotion. But Scheffler quickly regrouped, birdied two of his next three holes, and finished strong — proving the difference between losing your cool and losing control. Dennis Schneidler/Imago
