Sergio García gets code‑of‑conduct warning after club‑break episode at the Masters and assists Jon Rahm on the course

AI Summary

The 2017 Masters champion Sergio García was warned by officials after smashing his club on the second hole at Augusta, an incident that earned him a code‑of‑conduct warning. He later helped his playing partner Jon Rahm by carrying his clubs, while other players also faced disciplinary action during the tournament.

Sergio García, the 2017 Masters winner, made the cut at Augusta National but saw his weekend marred by a heated outburst on the second hole. After a mis‑hit tee shot, he struck his club into the ground, snapped off its head, and tossed it into a nearby cooler.

Masters officials responded swiftly, issuing García a code‑of‑conduct warning. Under tournament rules, a second breach would add a two‑stroke penalty, while a third could lead to disqualification.

In the aftermath of the incident, García stepped in to assist his playing partner Jon Rahm, picking up and carrying Rahm’s clubs while Rahm’s caddie was occupied raking a bunker.

The Masters has seen several disciplinary actions this year. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre received a reprimand for flashing an obscene gesture toward spectators after a wayward shot landed in water.

García entered the round 16 shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young. Although he managed a par on the second hole, he recorded three bogeys in the first four holes, slipping further down the leaderboard.

Known for a volatile temperament, García’s latest flare adds to a history of on‑course confrontations: at the 2023 Open Championship he broke his driver after a similar outburst, was disqualified from the 2019 Saudi International for damaging greens, and clashed with officials at the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship before departing the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.