The Open: Sergio Garcia Snaps Driver, Fails to Replace It amid Final Run

The final round of the 153rd Open Championship teed off at 4:35 a.m. ET on Sunday with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leading the scoreboard at 14-under. But while Scheffler was getting ready for his turn, LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia sparked backlash with a bizarre outburst at Royal Portrush.

The 2017 Masters champion began his round at 4:55 a.m. ET alongside Justin Leonard, sitting outside the top 50 at even par.

Dressed in his iconic red style, Spaniard opened the Sunday round with an even par, but what followed on the second hole stole headlines for all the wrong reasons.

After a wayward tee shot sailed left into the rough, Garcia lost it. He slammed his driver into the turf, breaking it into two halves.

The clubhead flew toward his bag while the remaining part was left lifeless in his hand, as captured in a video posted by Sky Sports on X.

According to Rule 4.1 of the Rules of Golf, Garcia couldn’t replace the driver because the damage was self-inflicted. He played the remaining 16 holes without a driver. The report was also confirmed by Golf.com later.

Ironically, Garcia channeled the rage into results. He birdied the second hole moments after the outburst, followed by four more birdies, finishing the round with a total of 68.

This was his best score of the week. But the behavior didn’t go unnoticed; instead, fans hit back on social media.

Golf.com’s X post drew sharp criticism, with one fan commenting, “Embarrassing! Should be disqualified and taken off the grounds. What an example to set to others.”

Others echoed the above sentiment, labeling the act “childish” and calling for penalties to discourage such displays.

This isn’t Garcia’s first temper flare at Royal Portrush

During the final day of the 2019 Open Championship, while playing at the same course, Garcia reportedly threw his driver toward his caddie after a poor shot, per Golf.com.

Though no formal penalty was issued then, the incident lingered in memory, and Sunday’s repeat only reignited the debate.

Garcia’s major season this year has been underwhelming. He missed the cut at the Masters, finished near the bottom at the PGA Championship, and failed to qualify for the U.S. Open.

His entry into The Open, too, came via a LIV Golf exemption for top performers and not through traditional merit.

Now, with another major misfire behind him, his Ryder Cup hopes dangle by a thread. Despite a LIV win earlier this year, Garcia’s path to Bethpage Black will rely entirely on a captain’s pick from Luke Donald.

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