Sergio Garcia has also jumped to the defense of LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman after Tiger Woods joined Rory McIlroy in calling for the Australian two-time Open champion to step down from his role.
Garcia has been in the news a lot over 2022. He was one of the first players to signal his intentions to join the Saudi-financed tour when he was filmed angrily ranting towards a PGA Tour rules official during the Wells Fargo Championship.
In fairness to Garcia, he was absolutely hosed by that ruling…
Related: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV
The Spaniard said he “couldn’t wait to leave this tour” and since then he has been involved in a number of frosty exchanges.
There was his alleged outburst at the BMW International Open in Germany when he was fined £100,000 and suspended by the DP World Tour.
He threatened to resign his DP World Tour membership after playing the 150th Open Championship in July after claiming he did not feel loved any more, despite “giving half my life to the European Tour”.
Related: Garcia denies rant at BMW International Open
Suffice to say, it’s all been more than a little bit unpleasant. Tensions rose once again when he withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship – the tour’s flagship event – citing no reason after the first round.
Speaking exclusively to GolfMagic this week, golf icon Jose Maria Olazabal even suggested the 2017 Masters champion should have “handled things a little better”.
It’s clear now Garcia has no issue in speaking his mind. He has responded to Woods and McIroy’s suggestions that there could be a path forward providing Norman quits as the LIV Golf chief executive and the litigation from both sides is stayed.
Leaping to the defense of Norman – just like Cameron Smith – Garcia said:
“Greg Norman is our CEO and we support him.
“There are people who could have done wrong in both places, but it seems that there are only bad guys on one side.”
Garcia’s comments as three venues were confirmed for the 2023 LIV Golf League.
One of them is Valderrama, a course Garcia has fond memories of having won as many as three times there over his career.
What did Tiger Woods say about Greg Norman?
What did Rory McIlroy say about Greg Norman?
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