Golf player Sergio Garcia damages driver in fit of rage during The Open competition

In the midst of the 2025 Open, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia found himself in an unusual predicament when the shaft of his driver snapped in half during play on the par-5 2nd hole at Royal Portrush.

The break occurred in the middle of the shaft, not at the neck, and the head of Garcia's driver popped off when he smashed it on the ground in frustration. This incident left Garcia without a driver for the remainder of the round, as the rules state that a broken club cannot be replaced if broken in anger.

Garcia had earlier expressed doubts about his form, stating that the last two or three months have been tough for him due to his play. Despite this, he had decided to play at Bethpage, but later changed his mind last week. However, his performance at The Masters and the PGA Championship left much to be desired, as he missed the cut at The Masters and finished T67th at the PGA Championship.

With the US Open out of the question, the 2025 Open became Garcia's last big chance to impress European team captain Luke Donald for a Ryder Cup wildcard selection. Garcia had a good conversation with Donald last week about the Ryder Cup wildcard selection, but it was not enough to secure him a spot on the team.

Despite the setback, Garcia played a solid par on the 1st hole before damaging his driver on the 2nd. He even managed to make a birdie on the par-5 2nd hole despite damaging his driver. Garcia closed with a three-under-par 68 at Royal Portrush, likely finishing inside the top 40.

Sergio Garcia claims he did not feel like he did much on the 2nd tee before damaging his driver. He stated, "I kind of - I didn't smack it straight down. I kind of like swiped it back." Garcia was surprised when his driver broke, as he was not trying to break it.

Rule 4.1 allows a player to keep using and/or repair any club damaged during the round, but does not allow replacement unless damaged by outside influence, natural forces, or someone other than the player or caddie. Despite this, Garcia got some practice throwing his broken driver during the round.

With the 2025 Open coming to a close, Garcia will need a strong finish to impress Donald and secure a spot on the European team for the Ryder Cup.

Golf player Sergio Garcia damages driver in fit of rage during The Open competition