rules
KNOW your
RULES
The latest in our series of situations encountered by everyday golfers, and what the correct procedures are
There have been many high profile examples of a golfer’s club breaking while playing a shot in a professional tournament. Rory McIlroy’s 9-iron at the BMW Championship, Ludvig Aberg’s driver at the Valero Texas Open, Hudson Swafford’s 7-iron at the Masters and Bubba Watson’s driver at the Travelers Championship are simply part of the game.
As is breaking your club in a fit of anger. Which we saw with Sergio Garcia at the 2026 Masters.
However, there are some differences in how the situation is treated.
You have a couple of options. Continue to make strokes with the damaged club for the rest of the round, or you may repair the club or replace it with another club as long as you conform to the maximum 14-club rule in your bag.
But, if you’ve broken your club in rage, you can’t replace it.
THE INCIDENT
Sergio Garcia broke his driver on No2 at Augusta National after an outburst on the tee box on Sunday and was issued a code-of-conduct warning, a first at the Masters. The 2017 Masters champ lost his temper on the 2nd teebox, slammed his club into the turf twice, then took a swipe at a table with a green cooler on it. That left the head of his driver dangling from the shaft, and Garcia reached over and yanked it off completely.
THE RESULT
The chairman of the competitions committee spoke to Garcia on the 4th tee and issued the code-of-conduct warning. The PGA Tour has been developing a code-of-conduct policy for competition, and the Masters was the first to use it.
The other men’s Majors are also using the same policy. A second violation would be a two-shot penalty, and the third violation would lead to disqualification.
THE RULE
Under R&A Rule 4.1, a club damaged during a round (via normal play or accidental damage) can be used, repaired, or replaced, provided it does not delay play. If damaged by abuse, you may still use it, but you cannot replace it. A new 2023 rule allows replacing broken clubs immediately.
Replacing the Club: If a club is broken or significantly damaged (eg, shaft breaks, head detaches, face deformed) during a round, you may replace it with another club, including buying one or using a club from a partner.
Deliberate act: If you damage a club through abuse (eg, throwing it, slamming it in anger), you cannot replace it, but you are still allowed to use the damaged club for the remainder of the round.
Continuing to Use: You can continue to use any damaged club, regardless of how the damage was caused, as long as it is not for a new round.
Procedure: Before making another stroke with a replacement club, you must take the damaged club out of play (Rule 4.1c(1)).
Significant Damage Requirement: Per 2025/2026 updates, Local Rule G-9 can be adopted in some competitions, restricting replacement to cases where the club is broken or significantly damaged.
• See full rule explanation HERE.
WIN!
Stand a chance to win a COBRA Golf bag. Simply select the correct answer to this question and you'll go into the draw for this fantastic giveaway.
Question:
In stroke play, a player positions his golf bag near the teeing ground for the purpose of blocking sunlight in the area where he tees up the ball. He then makes a stroke.
What is the ruling?
a) There is no penalty
b) The player gets one penalty stroke
c) The player gets two penalty strokes
Closing date:
28 July 2026
enter now
Rules competition with cobra/puma golf
Up for grabs in July: a COBRA golf bag.
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congratulations
xxxxxx from Campbell River BC on winning a PUMA Golf outfit in April’s Rules competition.
Question:
Before playing a shot from the fairway, a player decides to use a different club and returns to their bag. A gust of wind then causes the player's ball to roll down a slope several feet from its original position.
What is the ruling?
a) The player gets one stroke penalty and must replace the ball.
b) There is no penalty and the ball must be played from its new position.
c) There is no penalty and the player must replace the ball.
To feature in the mag, simply email us an interesting tale involving a rule at your club that is worth discussing, and we’ll make it happen. Get in touch with us at contact@thegolfmag.co.za
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