Sergio Garcia Receives Conduct Warning After Breaking Driver at Augusta National

Sergio Garcia created the first conduct warning in Masters history after breaking his driver on the second tee during Sunday's final round, highlighting ongoing struggles since his 2017 triumph at Augusta National.

The Incident Unfolds

Following a bogey on the opening hole, Garcia's frustration boiled over when his second tee shot found a bunker. The former Masters champion slammed his driver twice into the turf before walking to the back of the tee box and breaking the club head against a cooler.

Under golf rules, Garcia couldn't replace the deliberately damaged driver, forcing him to play the remaining holes without his most important club. Competition committee chairman Geoff Yang issued the historic warning on the fourth tee.

New Conduct Policy Emerges

The Masters became the first tournament to implement the PGA Tour's developing code of conduct policy. The graduated system includes two-stroke penalties for second violations and disqualification for third offenses. Other major championships plan similar implementation.

Pattern of Struggles

Since capturing his only major title in 2017, Garcia has missed six Masters cuts and finished a disappointing 52nd among 54 weekend qualifiers. His 8-over total reflected ongoing challenges that he attributed simply to "bad golf" and "bad shots."

The incident mirrors Garcia's 2023 Open Championship driver break, though this time carried additional consequences through the new conduct framework.