SERGIO GARCIA dismisses RORY MCILROY’s direct thoughts: ‘We deserve more’
SERGIO GARCIA dismisses RORY MCILROY’s direct thoughts: ‘We deserve more’
Sergio Garcia may have buried clay with Rory McIlroy, but he didn’t take kindly to the Northern Irishman’s idea of LIV Golf.
Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy could be friends again after the duo took a break, but the Spaniard has rejected the Ulsterman’s LIV Golf League idea. McIlroy’s position on the Saudi-backed tour has softened in recent months, and the two sides appear to be finally attempting a reconciliation, although the future of men’s professional golf remains fluid.
The 34-year-old Northern Irishman said he would be open to the idea of becoming part of the LIV if Golf IPL develops, which features four games in the spring and four in the summer. He also urged those in power to “think outside the box” and create a global golf tour.
“PGA Tour revenue is currently about $2.3 billion,” McIlroy said in explaining his vision. “So how do you do number 4 or 6?” To me, this is an outsider’s point of view. “They need to think internationally and spread their wings.” I’ve been playing drums for a while.”
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“I think we don’t want to take it seriously for a month,” he told the Standard. “We all deserve more.”
Of course, Garcia had kind words for Jon Rahm, who switched tournaments last month in a move worth at least £450m for the Masters champion. Lahm did not receive much criticism from his teammates for his run. At least Garcia and his fellow LIV rebels weren’t the same at first. McIlroy described Rahm’s decision as a “smart business move”.
In response to McIlroy’s comments, Rahm showed a lot of “maturity” from the Northern Irishman’s previous comments about LIV. “He should be a little grateful to us for that,” Garcia said of Lahm’s lack of criticism.
“For the first time I knew we could tolerate the heat. “I believed in the product, I believed in how good LIV was, and I believed it could be better.
“We had to ride the wave of criticism, but now people are starting to see the truth.”
The 2017 Masters champion received a huge fine from the DP World Tour for participating in an LIV event without the tour’s permission. Unlike European Ryder Cup icons such as Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, Garcia did not pay any fines to the LIV players after the umpire ruled.
Garcia made a last-minute attempt to pay the fine and qualify for the 2023 Ryder Cup. According to Telegraph Sport, Garcia is owed £700,000.
But Garcia’s bid to don the blue and gold in Italy last September was quickly rejected by European leaders. Garcia doesn’t appear to have paid the fine yet, but is ready to reapply for the DP World Tour membership. However, the issue of fines is still a concern. He said: “I would like to [apply for membership again] this year. I talked to my managers and I also talked to my wife. I was ready. “But after seeing players keep their LIV memberships and then get banned for a year, it’s not worth it.
“I don’t want to join. I want to pay all fines and be suspended for a year. Does not make sense.”
