Did Sergio Garcia’s Temper Cause LIV Golf to Lose…Everything?

Sergio Garcia—the proud owner of a Green Jacket, by the way—threw a temper tantrum during the final round of this year’s Masters, swinging and smashing his driver into the second tee box before snapping it on a water cooler.

According to a new report from the Financial Times, that moment helped lead Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, to his decision of pulling PIF’s funding of LIV Golf.

Do I think this incident was the spark to PIF’s abandonment of the rival league it helped to create? No, probably not. But Rumayyan has been chasing—borderline begging—for a Green Jacket for years. He’s tried to finagle his way into Augusta National membership on a few occasions, and Garcia’s outburst no doubt caused him incredible levels of embarrassment.

So it may not have been the catalyst, but it could have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

With Rumayyan and the PIF no longer involved, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil announced new funding for the league just over two weeks ago, but that hasn’t stopped the onslaught of bad news.

Jon Rahm and others may be walking out the door, the season finale was canceled, and the league is facing lawsuits for unpaid services.

Who knew when we were watching the Masters in April that Garcia being an asshole—not the first time—would play a role in LIV’s demise?