Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy: From Friends to Foes and Back Again
Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, once close friends and Ryder Cup teammates, experienced a rift after Garcia left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf. Despite their differences, Garcia still considers McIlroy a friend.
The Split
Two years ago, Garcia made headlines by joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, leaving the PGA Tour behind. In contrast, McIlroy emerged as a vocal critic of the new league. Their differing views led to tension, particularly when Garcia sent McIlroy a text during the 2022 US Open, telling him to stop criticizing LIV Golf. McIlroy shared this incident with the Irish Independent, expressing his offense at Garcia’s message.
Rekindling the Friendship
In 2023, a year after their fallout, Garcia’s wife Angela spoke to McIlroy at the US Open. This interaction prompted McIlroy to send a friendly text to Angela, encouraging Garcia to reach out. Garcia, seeing this as an opportunity to mend their relationship, had a positive conversation with McIlroy.
Moving Forward
Garcia described their reconciliation as two friends wanting to restore their bond. Despite their efforts, McIlroy later made a comment suggesting LIV Golf could coexist with the PGA Tour, akin to cricket’s Indian Premier League, indicating some lingering differences.
