Sergio Garcia responds to 'bitter' McIlroy question after 'lacking maturity' dig

20 March 2023 , 17:46

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Sergio Garcia has responded to Rory McIlroy's LIV criticism (Image: Getty Images)

LIV Golf star Sergio Garcia has responded to former friend and now foe Rory McIlroy, as the ongoing civil war at the top of the professional game between the Saudi-backed series and the PGA Tour rumbles on.

Once friends and Ryder Cup teammates, Garcia and McIlroy's relationship has broken down since the Spaniard's mega-money switch to the Saudi-funded series. The Northern Irishman has been one of the breakaway circuit's biggest critics, and unsurprisingly this has not sat well with Garcia.

Just last month, the 2017 Masters champion caused a stir, after accusing 33-year-old McIlroy of 'lacking maturity' amid their ongoing dispute.

And now Garcia has spoken out more on the feud, after the being quizzed on the criticism of the Saudi-backed series by both McIlroy and Fred Couples, who recently described the Spaniard as a 'clown' in an explosive interview. Asked if he felt McIlroy and Couples were 'bitter', Garcia said: "I don't know. You'd probably have to ask them.

"I think, at the end of the day, we are where we want to be. We're happy to be here, and that's the most important thing for us. Everyone, what do they say? Everybody has an opinion, the same as the other thing. Obviously everyone is going to talk.

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"At the end of the day, we're very happy where we are. We love the product. You just have to see what's going on out here. So just go and ask them."

Sergio Garcia has clashed with Rory McIlroy (Getty Images)

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Amid the ongoing dispute between the two circuits, the PGA Tour recently announced a whole host of changes, that included an increase in elevated events, which will see reduced fields and more prize money - a model compared to that of their LIV rivals.

Despite being on the opposite side of the fence, Garcia admitted he was 'happy' for the players who were benefitting on the PGA Tour. He went on: "I'm not going to lie. I'm happy about what's happening on the PGA Tour because I have a lot of friends there and they deserve to get everything that they're getting, and I'm happy for them.

"The same way that they're happy that I'm here and doing what we're doing. So I guess we'll see what happens in the future." Garcia is set to be reunited with his former pals at the PGA Tour next month, when the 2017 Masters champion heads to Augusta National for the 2023 edition of the flagship event.

Joshua Lees