Sergio Garcia Smashes Driver, Gets Warning at Masters

Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, smashed his driver in frustration during the final round of the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, drawing a code of conduct warning from officials and highlighting his ongoing struggles on the course.

The incident occurred on the par-5 second hole after Garcia, already coming off a bogey on the first, hooked his tee shot into a fairway bunker. The 46-year-old Spaniard slammed the club into the turf twice, then struck it against a nearby cooler, snapping the head off the shaft. Under golf rules, he could not replace the damaged driver and had to complete the round without it. Remarkably, Garcia salvaged par on the second hole, his only par in the opening four, before bogeying the third and fourth. He finished the day with a 3-over 75, including five bogeys and two birdies, to end the tournament at 8 over par and tied for 53rd place among those who made the cut.

On the fourth tee, Geoff Yang, chairman of the competition committee, approached Garcia and issued the warning for his conduct, marking the first such violation reported at the Masters. Speaking to reporters afterward, Garcia acknowledged the outburst but offered...