Club Break Doesn’t Stop Spaniard From Shooting 68 at Royal Portrush
Sergio García’s final round at the 153rd Open Championship became an unlikely comeback story after a moment of frustration early on Sunday. Just five shots into his round, the Spanish golfer broke his driver, leaving him to play the final 16 holes at Royal Portrush without one of his most important clubs. Despite the setback, García managed to post his best round of the tournament, finishing with a three-under-par 68.
García, a former Masters champion and Ryder Cup icon, reacted angrily to a wayward drive from the second tee that veered left into the rough. In an impulsive motion following his swing, he slammed the club into the turf. Though the action wasn’t violent by professional standards, the shaft snapped in half. Under tournament rules, players may only replace clubs if the damage is accidental and not due to abuse. In this case, García was forced to continue without his driver.
Back in the clubhouse, García said he didn’t expect the club to break. “I’ve done that 50 times, and I’ve never broken a club,” he told reporters. He speculated that the shaft may have already been weakened. Still, he laughed off the incident, saying, “Then I got some good practice when I threw it.”
Impressive Composure and Recovery
Despite the early drama, García remained focused. He recovered from the difficult drive on the second hole with a birdie, then added four more birdies throughout the round, including three on the back nine. His three-under 68 bettered his bogey-free 70 on Saturday and brought his overall score to three-under for the tournament.
While it wasn’t enough to challenge tournament leader Scottie Scheffler, who held a commanding four-shot lead at 14-under heading into the final round, García’s performance was a marked improvement over recent major appearances. At the 2022 Open at St Andrews, he had finished tied for 68th.
Reflecting on the round, García joked, “If I started with 14 (clubs), I don’t know, maybe I would have shot worse. You never know.”
LIV Golf Rankings Offer Second Chance
García, who had previously played 24 consecutive Opens, missed out on qualifying in the last two editions. A missed three-foot putt in March nearly ended his hopes again this year. However, a newly introduced category for top LIV Golf players gave him a lifeline. He secured his place in this year’s field as the leading non-exempt player on the breakaway tour.
Now, attention turns to the Ryder Cup, where García is the all-time leading points scorer with 28.5. The six-time winner is looking to return for what would be his 11th appearance, potentially tying him with Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood for most European appearances, just one behind Phil Mickelson’s record of 12 for the United States.
Eyes on the Ryder Cup
García confirmed he’s been in conversations with European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who will soon finalize his roster for the September competition at Bethpage Black in New York. “It would mean the world to me to be there,” García said. “Obviously if I can help the team, that’s my main goal. I’ve always said it.”
Known for his leadership and experience, García believes he can bring value. “I think that I can bring things to the team … to any team that would probably need it,” he added. Still, he acknowledged that the final decision rests with Donald: “He’s going to make whatever he thinks is the best decision for him and his team.”
García said he hopes to continue his strong form in the coming weeks as he awaits the captain’s call. “It’s still a couple months to go. I wish I could have a crystal ball and see the future, but unfortunately, I cannot.”