Golf might be considered a gentleman’s game – but that doesn’t mean it always features gentlemanly behaviour.
It’s not just amateurs who lose their cool out on the course either, top professionals including Tiger Woods,Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia have all seen red – rather than the green – at one time or another.
Coincidentally, two of those men are competing in the Ryder Cup this weekend at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, as Europe bid to defend the crown they won three years ago.
On a weekend that is sure to produce high drama, Central Recorder Sport takes a look back at five of the biggest golfing meltdowns of all-time, starting with that man Garcia.
Sergio Garcia (2019)
(Image: HOOA Golf/Youtube)
Garcia may look cool, calm and considered, but he does sometimes let his emotions get the better of him. The 2019 Saudi international was one such occasion.
Unhappy with the outcome of a routine bunker shot, Garcia channelled his inner boy at the beach and started hacking up the sand in frustration.
After being accused of purposely damaging the greens at the same tournament, the 41-year-old was issued with a rare disqualification from European Tour CEO Keith Pelley.
Garcia apologised and even waived his appearance fee the following year, kissing goodbye to somewhere in the region of $640,000 in the process.
Charley Hoffman (2008)
What is the biggest golfing meltdown you can remember? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: Getty Images)
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You don’t hassle the Hoff. That’s what people used to say about Baywatch hero David Hasselhoff, but it could just as easily apply to US golf star Charley Hoffman.
In the 2008 edition of the Players Championship, Hoffman wasn’t best impressed after missing two easy gimmes on the par three 13th.
With a stern look on his face that might have convinced the ball to go in of its own accord, the 44-year-old holed his next attempt – and then decided he’d had enough.
As nonchalant as you like, Hoffman cooly lobbed his putter into the water, never to be seen again.
Bradley vs Jimenez (2015)
(Image: PGA TOUR/Youtube)
Keegan Bradley and Juan Angel Jimenez had already been eliminated from the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play and were playing out their final match when things turned nasty.
After pulling his tee shot at the 13th, Bradley needed a drop from the path and Jimenez, for whatever reason, came over to check the legality of it.
Bradley’s caddie Steve Hale then told the Spaniard to mind his own business before Jimenez could be heard telling him to shut up.
“You don’t tell my caddie to shut up,” Bradley was heard saying as the eliminated pair got in each other’s faces at the end of the match.
Rory McIlroy (2016)
(Image: William Finnegan/Youtube)
Frustration got the better of McIlory at Royal Troon in 2016 when he threw his 3-wood over his head onto the ground, causing the head (of the club that is) to snap clean off the shaft.
The Northern Irishman had just hit a wayward shot on the 16th at The Open when he whacked his club in anger, using a powerful motion that saw the club smash the ground in front of him and break cleanly in two.
“The club head came loose on it earlier on the week,” McIlroy said afterwards. “I had to get the head re-glued. So it was probably partly to do with that and partly the throw as well.”
Tiger Woods (2015)
Even the very best are capable of having an off-day – just ask 15-time major champion Woods.
Unhappy with his playing on the opening day of the 2015 US PGA Championship, the legendary American swore three times, with each of the comments relayed on the PGA Tour’s webcam.
After leaving a long putt on the third hole, Woods yelled: “What the f*** is wrong with you?” He also dropped f-bombs after poor shots on the eighth and 16th holes on route to an opening round 75.
Woods also let rip at The Masters earlier in the year. After a slack tee shot during his third round at Augusta, he said: “What the f*** have I done?”