Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia set to bury the hatchet after reaching out at US Open
- Michael Schmitt
- 22 June 2023
McIlroy and Garcia have reportedly reached out to one another, showing a willingness to put an end to the hostilities brought about by the Spaniard's LIV Golf switch.
With the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's PIF recently agreeing to call off the dogs and merge in a shock announcement that still has the golf world reeling, it seems some of the players on opposite sides of the battle are also looking to kiss and make up.
Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia enjoyed a long-running and successful Ryder Cup partnership on the course, while McIlroy was even a groomsman at the Spaniard's wedding in 2017, but their relationship turned sour amid the ongoing LIV Golf controversy.
McIlroy took particular offense to a text Garcia sent him before the second round of last year's US Open, back when tensions were still running high.
The Northern Irishman said Garcia "basically" told him to "shut up about LIV, blah, blah, blah.
"I was pretty offended and sent him back a couple of daggers and that was it."
Garcia spoke about their fractured relationship in February, calling it "sad".
"I think that we've done so many things together and had so many experiences that for him to throw that away just because I decided to go to a different tour, well, it doesn't seem very mature; lacking maturity, really.
"But Rory's got his own life, and he makes his own choices, the same way that I make mine. I respect his choices, but it seems like he doesn't respect the ones I make. So, one-way street."
However, that was all a year ago, and the frosty relationship between the two now appears to be thawing.
It all started when Garcia reached out prior to this year's US Open via a text message. According to the Spanish golf portal TenGolf, Garcia made an offer to sit down with McIlroy to sort out their differences.
The pair then crossed paths on the final day at the Los Angeles Country Club where Garcia was teeing off on the 18th as McIlroy was finishing up on the first green.
Locking eyes, McIlroy lifted his hand to head in a clear sign that he would call Garcia.
Meanwhile, speaking to Sky Sports recently, Garcia welcomed news of the merger, even as he admitted he did not know where that left LIV Golf, whether the tour would continue or indeed if he would be able to return to the PGA Tour should that become necessary.
"If there's no LIV Golf of course I'll have to go somewhere," he added. "We'll see. It doesn't look like I'll be able to do it this year unfortunately, it's all speculation so we'll find out more in the next few weeks.
"I wish I could tell you more but unfortunately not much. I guess things will come out as everything settles, but I think at the end of the day it is where we probably should have been [merged] at the beginning and I think it is better for everyone, so that is the most important thing."
