Sergio Garcia says Rory McIlroy is ‘lacking maturity’ for ending their friendship over LIV

Sergio Garcia has called Rory McIlroy immature for ending their friendship because the Spaniard left the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.

The duo’s friendship in years past was well known: McIlroy was the best man at Garcia’s wedding in 2017 and they competed on Ryder Cup teams together.

But when Spain’s Garcia resigned from the PGA Tour to accept the millions offered by LIV, it marked the end of his relationship with McIlroy, who has been LIV’s most vociferous critic by far.

“I think it’s very sad,” said Garcia, 43. The Telegraph. ‘I think 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 on a different tour, well, he doesn’t seem very mature; immature, really.

“But Rory has her own life and makes her own decisions, the same way I make mine. I respect his choices, but it seems he doesn’t respect the ones I make. So a one way street.

The two used to be very close, but their friendship ended when Garcia joined LIV Golf.

Garcia insisted he moved to LIV because the organization listens to all players and not just a couple, which appeared to be a thinly veiled suggestion that the PGA Tour favors the views of McIlroy and another close friend, Tiger Woods.

“We had so much criticism when we started last June that it united us all together and that even with the bosses,” he said.

‘You can suggest things, ideas, and although they are not always followed up and put into practice, they listen to you.

‘That didn’t happen on the PGA Tour. There are only two, maybe three players that bosses listen to on that Tour.

McIlroy recently said he had deleted Garcia’s number from his phone and the Spaniard sent him a text “basically telling me to shut up about LIV, blah blah blah.”

And last September, the 33-year-old McIlroy claimed he is not on friendly terms with any LIV players, saying: “I wouldn’t say I have much of a relationship with them right now.”

‘His best days are behind him. I have not done anything different. They are the ones who have made that decision. I can sit here and hold my head up.

The first LIV event of the year kicks off on Friday in Mexico, where players compete for a share of a $25 million prize pool.

The two played in Ryder Cups and McIlroy was best man at Garcia’s wedding in 2017.

Garcia said McIlroy lacked “maturity” for ending their friendship over LIV golf

For now, Garcia and McIlroy are going their separate ways but will compete in the same tournament at the 2023 Masters in early April.

The first Major on the golf calendar will take place from April 6 to 9 at Augusta National in Georgia.

Garcia won there in 2017, while for McIlroy, it’s the only major title he’s missed. Last year he was runner-up, but was three shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler.