A frustrating drive tests the patience of even the best golfers in the world.
In the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament on Sunday, April 12, Sergio Garcia he let his emotions get the better of him, driving his driver into the tea box, then the nearest cooler, after his shot faded into a sand trap.
“This was a frustrated Sergio,” an ESPN announcer said during a replay of Garcia’s emotional breakdown. “You hit the ground, and that driver is done for the day.”
Garcia appeared to be carrying his broken driver, his head nearly breaking off the club.
The shot came on the second hole at Augusta National.
The frustration quickly turned into a serious moment, as Garcia seemed to punish himself for the emotional outburst by carrying. Jon Rahmclubs down the fairway – a task often relegated to caddies.
Garcia – the 2017 Masters champion – is not allowed to change his driver for the remainder of his tournament as it was damaged due to abuse, according to the Rules of Golf.
He was also given an official code of conduct warning from the competition committee chairman, Geoff Yangwho spoke to Garcia on the fourth hole. According to the code of conduct, a second violation is tantamount to a two-shot penalty, and a third is disqualification.
Sergio Garcia tees off on the fifth hole in the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty ImagesThe infraction comes after Garcia’s bogey on the first hole of the final round. On the 2nd hole – even with a frustrating drive – Garcia saved par, then three and four.
With 16 holes in the final round, Garcia is 52nd in the standings.
Garcia has seemed quiet since that initial outburst, but has been known to wear his emotions on his sleeve on the course in the past.
During last year’s Open Championship, Garcia destroyed his driver out of frustration and had to play the last 16 holes without the club (and shot a 3-under 68).
A hole-in-one is always cause for celebration – but Shane Lowry’s celebration will be even more special. After hitting an ace on the sixth hole at Augusta National in the third round of the 2026 Masters on Saturday, April 11, Lowry became the first golfer to hit two holes in one in that format. […]
In 2019, he was kicked out of the Saudi International for damaging the greens out of frustration.
On the other side of the Masters scoreboard, Rory McIlroy again Cam Young they are currently tied for first in the final round. The golfers are paired together and will tee off at 2:25 pm ET.
McIlroy held a record six-stroke lead through the first two rounds of the tournament (the best in Masters history after 36 holes), but Young’s incredible third-round performance closed the gap, setting up what would be a dramatic end to the iconic tournament.
“It feels so good. It’s my favorite place,” Young said after his Saturday, April 11, best-ever round at Augusta National. “This is my fifth Masters, and every time I come back it’s a special place to be.”
