Top 10 shocking moments when golfers lost their cool
We have seen some huge golf meltdowns at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, so we’ve looked back on some of the biggest tantrums of all time…
Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns were both overcome by red mist in Memphis.
Scheffler, a perfectionist who has won the Masters and the Olympic gold medal in 2024, swiped at a bunker and kicked his putter shaft during the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
His good friend and Ryder Cup partner Burns went one further and snapped his driver in round three at TPC Southwind. We have all been there (I certainly have, anyway).
This proves even the best players in the world are overcome by emotion from time to time. It isn’t uncommon to see open shows of anger and rage at the top golf’s top level.
This has been the case for many years. Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia. You name them and somewhere in the archives, they will have committed an unforgivable act of petulance as a result of a bad swing.
I was sent into said archives to find the best meltdowns from years gone, and I’m delighted to say I’ve unearthed some of the best golf meltdowns there have ever been…
Sam Burns buries his driver
On the 9th hole on Saturday, Sam Burns hit an errant tee shot at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and had enough with his driver.
He threw it to the floor, it snapped and he couldn’t use his big stick on the back nine. He went on to shoot 70.
Abraham Ancer was vexed at Valderrama
As recently as July, LIV Golf’s Abraham Ancer was recorded launching his club at Valderrama, adopting the trajectory of a low punch, piercing through the wind.
Rory McIlroy says ‘Goodbye’ to his 3-iron
We’re heading back to 2015 now when Rory McIlroy was competing at the Cadillac Championship held on the Blue Monster Course at Doral.
After a bad approach to the par-5 8th hole in the third round, the four-time major champion slung his 3-iron into the drink. It was later retrieved by a scuba diver.
Sergio’s shameful sweeping of a Saudi bunker
You could probably make a list full of Sergio Garcia rages, let alone include other players. One of his most famous tantrums came at the 2019 Saudi International. Before being disqualified for damaging as many as five greens, the former Masters champion went berserk in a bunker in what became a forgettable week for the Spaniard.
Hennie headloss
Hennie Otto appeared to take leave of his senses at the Nashua Masters in 2005. After missing a short, looping putt, he took a full swing with his putter in complete rage, thankfully not letting go of it.
Otto continued to take five more putts, behaving like a child who’d just taken up the game, as a result of pure anger. Try not to watch the below clip without smiling.
Daly takes his club for a dive
On the par-3 7th hole of Whistling Straits at the 2015 PGA Championship, John Daly put his first three tee shots into Lake Michigan, ending any chances of contending for his second PGA title.
He found the green with his fourth attempt, but after this he sent his 6-iron sailing into the lake, joining his first three golf balls.
Sergio’s anger at his shoe
While playing at the World Match Play during his rookie season, Garcia showed the fans a sign of things to come when he took his shoe off and put it into the crowd.
When it was thrown back to him, he then booted it forward with his other foot – a quite unbelievable showing in public.
Pieters bends his club over his neck
Thomas Pieters, now of LIV Golf, was always a firey character when ascending the ranks on the DP World Tour.
In 2018 at Wentworth, the Belgian hit a shot that he wasn’t pleased with (to say the least) and snapped his iron over his neck. Ouch…
Brooks breaks his driver
In 2017, Brooks Koepka sent two drives sailing right in round two of the Honda Classic. The five-time major champion had simply had enough of his driver at this point.
Although the camera didn’t capture the snap, you can see Koepka apply severe pressure and motion at his driver. He then picks up the broken head.
Charl churns his club at Muirfield
Another tantrum and it’s another major champion. This time, it was Charl Schwartzel who was unhappy with an iron shot at Muirfield at the 2013 Open Championship.
The 2011 Masters champion threw his club down on the floor during the first round. The shaft absolutely exploded.
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Which is your favourite from this golf tantrums list? Can you relate to these golf meltdowns? Are they similar to golf meltdowns you have seen yourself? Tell us on X!
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
