Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy once enjoyed a strong friendship, but their relationship soured after Garcia decided to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. Garcia, a notable figure who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf two years ago, found himself at odds with McIlroy, who emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the new league.
The tension between them became public in 2022 when McIlroy revealed that Garcia had texted him during the US Open, telling him to “shut up” about LIV Golf. McIlroy, offended by Garcia’s message, responded sharply, and their relationship seemed strained.
However, efforts to mend their friendship emerged a year later. Garcia shared that his wife Angela had spoken to McIlroy at the 2023 US Open, which led to a positive exchange and encouraged Garcia to reach out. “Angela and Rory said ‘Hi’ to each other at the US Open,” Garcia said. “That kind of gave me the go-ahead to reach out to him. We had a great chat.”
Despite their attempts to reconcile, McIlroy didn’t hold back from making critical remarks about Garcia. When asked about Garcia’s suggestion that LIV deserved more than a four-week slot in the golf season, McIlroy rolled his eyes and commented, “Yeah, Sergio feels he deserves a lot of things.”
Nevertheless, recent signs indicate there is no lingering animosity. In an Instagram Q&A, Garcia included McIlroy among his favorite pro golfers, saying, “I love to watch my friends. Guys like Jon Rahm, my teammates at Fireballs and Rory and guys like that. I don’t have anyone in particular but my idol was always Seve [Ballesteros] and [Jose Maria] Olazabal.”
While their professional paths have diverged, it appears Garcia and McIlroy are on better terms personally, focusing on their shared history and mutual respect in the sport.