Nick Faldo TEARS INTO Sergio Garcia after LIV pro labels Rory McIlroy immature
Sir Nick Faldo has renewed his rivalry with Sergio Garcia after the LIV Golf League player labelled Rory McIlroy 'immature'.
Sir Nick Faldo has criticised Sergio Garcia after the LIV Golf League player placed blame on Rory McIlroy for the breakdown of their friendship.
In case you somehow missed Garcia's comments, the 2017 Masters champion claimed 33-year-old McIlroy was 'lacking in maturity'.
Garcia's comments were to The Telegraph before the $405m league got their second season underway in Mexico at Mayakoba.
The pair were once very close having appeared on numerous, successful Ryder Cup sides together.
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McIlroy was even a groomsman at Garcia's wedding in 2017 to Angela Akins.
But their friendship has been strained owing to the emergence of the breakaway tour led by another of McIlroy's harshest critics in Greg Norman.
Norman warned McIlroy to be careful about what he said about LIV earlier in the week as he claimed the four-time major champion 'knew nothing' about the Saudi-funded circuit.
"I think it's very said," Garcia said of the breakdown of his friendship with McIlroy.
He added:
Golf fans were quick to point out the irony of his statement given how the Spaniard has repeatedly been filmed letting his temper get the better of him throughout his career.
A montage featuring clips of some of Garcia's memorable moments did the rounds on social media.
Those clips included Garcia spitting into a cup, smashing clubs into bunkers, telling a PGA rules official he 'couldn't wait to leave this tour' and a picture of him grinning eat-to-ear at a college football game after withdrawing from the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.
It should be noted that McIlroy is not immune from outbursts of anger that can be described as equally immature.
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Faldo, 65, also joined in on the criticism.
He wrote on social media:
It goes without saying that Faldo and Garcia have history. Faldo and Garcia clashed at the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla.
Garcia claimed half a point in that dustup and then-captain Faldo tore into the Spaniard, saying that he had 'a bad attitude'.
Now this is rich coming from the most immature player I’ve ever witnessed!! Sergio Garcia says Rory McIlroy is 'lacking maturity' over LIV Golf comments - USA TODAY https://t.co/vJOUkejn8G
— Sir Nick Faldo (@NickFaldo006) February 25, 2023
Faldo also was quoted on TV saying Garcia was 'useless'.
Garcia later said he didn't want to stoop to that level, adding: "There's a lot of things I could say about Nick Faldo."
McIlroy revealed earlier in the year that he had received some explosive text messages from Garcia.
The Ulsterman said he was told to 'shut up' about LIV Golf. Offended, McIlroy said he 'sent back a few daggers' of his own.
At this point it seems the likelihood of McIlroy and Garcia reconciling anytime soon are slim.
It does seem, though, that the prospect of LIV players appearing at the Ryder Cup is increasing by the day.
It has now been confirmed all LIV players who have qualified or are otherwise exempt have not been banned from the major championships.
Just this week European captain Luke Donald suggested he was keeping a close eye some LIV players ahead of September's contest.
And U.S. captain Zach Johnson has stated the situation is 'fluid' when asked about the prospect of LIV players in his side.
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