Frustration will always be part of the game of golf, even for major champions. Masters champion Sergio Garcia is no stranger to frustration and he demonstrated exactly how not to handle it during Sunday’s third round of the Dell Technologies Championship.
After hitting a great drive that found the fringe next to the green on the short 284-yard par-4 fourth hole, Garcia decided to putt his second shot. Whether it was a poor read or a mis-hit, his attempt turned sharply away from the hole leaving him 13 feet for his birdie.
It was at that point the fiery Spaniard drew his putter in the air and slammed it down in frustration. Unfortunately, there happened to be a sprinkler head in the way.
Garcia, who’s broken a club or two in his day, knew immediately he should check the club for damage and sure enough, his Toulon Design prototype was bent and therefore unusable for the remainder of the round.
According to the Rules of Golf, “If a club is damaged other than in the normal course of play and its playing characteristics have changed or it is rendered nonconforming, the club must not be replaced or used again during the round. If the damaged or broken club happens to be a putter, the player would need to putt with any one of the other clubs in their bag.”
Being the pro that he is, Garcia collected himself and calmly drained the birdie putt with a fairway metal.
Update: Sergio don’t need no stinking putter. pic.twitter.com/oGDui0j8CD
— Skratch (@Skratch) September 3, 2017
By the end of the day, Garcia also putted with his driver and 3-iron en route to a 4-over 75. The 37-year-old turned it around during Monday’s final round with a different putter firing a 4-under par 67 leaving him in a tie for 35th.
— — —
Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest goings-on in the world of golf by following the SwingxSwing Clubhouse on social media. We share stories, stats and breaking news on Twitter, keep the fun going off the course on Instagram and share any and all golf-related topics on Facebook.
Never be the odd golfer out when your friends are talking about the latest or funniest happenings in golf. Sign up for the SxS newsletter today!
