Sergio Garcia: 'Rory McIlroy realises trying to fight each other is not going to help anyone...'

Sergio Garcia believes Rory McIlroy has made a fairly dramatic U-turn on all things LIV Golf over the past two years since he has realised 'trying to fight each other is not going to help anyone and is definitely not going to help the game'. 

Garcia, 44, was speaking exclusively to GolfMagic ahead of hosting his third annual FORE Kids ATX golf tournament & PAR-Tee on 1-2 November that contributes to the Sergio & Angela Garcia Foundation.

While McIlroy, 35, is still very much aligned to the PGA Tour, the World No.3 has softened his stance on all things LIV Golf and Saudi Arabian influence on the game in recent times.

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When LIV Golf first emerged on the scene, McIlroy claimed the league was 'dead in the water' and 'not something to jump at'.

A few months later, some of the world's best PGA Tour players such as Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia had all jumped ship. 

Garcia's move to LIV Golf seemingly ruffled McIlroy's feathers some more, and their friendship entered a rocky patch. 

But they soon held clear the air talks, and Garcia recently confirmed he 'still gets along with' McIlroy, who was his groomsman.

Earlier this year LIV Golf landed their biggest signing to date in Jon Rahm, who joined for a reported $600m fee. 

Rahm then persuaded his European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton to come and join him.

Many golf fans now consider LIV Golf has close to half of the world's very best players on its roster, and that professional golf is still very much divided as we enter 2025. 

McIlroy knows the game is fragmented, too. 

As a result the four-time major champion is seemingly now content to help the PGA Tour and DP World Tour tie down its framework agreement with LIV Golf's bankrollers, Saudi PIF, in a bid to bring the professional game back together again. 

When we pressed Garcia for comment about McIlroy's complete 180 on all things LIV Golf, he replied "I think it's great" with a smile. 

Garcia continued: "I think at the end of the day it shows we're all very emotional and we try to defend our positions and stuff like that, but at the end of the day it shows we all want to go in the same direction and make golf better. 

"That's the most important thing. Rory has seen that, he realises that trying to fight each other is not going to help anyone, and it's definitely not going to help the game. 

"If you look at it with a good perspective, in a few years unfortunately we are going to be gone and the game is the only thing that is going to stay here.

"The players will come and go, and it doesn't matter how good you've been or how much of a legend of the game you've been, the only thing that stands is the game and that's what we have to make better and protect."

Last week PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan strode the fairways alongside Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan during the Dunhill Links on the DP World Tour.

The two bosses even exchanged a hug on the first tee, something many would have considered unthinkable two years ago when Monahan was equally as critical as McIlroy of Saudi PIF's involvement in the game. 

Newly-promoted DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings was also on the scene at last week's Dunhill Links as the trio met for talks. 

Al-Rumayyan caused something of a stir in the first round when he appeared to break the Carnoustie dress code by rocking up in a Newcastle United top. 

McIlroy also got to play a round each with both Monahan and Al-Rumayyan at the Dunhill Links, while accompanied by his father Gerry. 

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• McIlroy's biggest LIV Golf regret? 'Not getting that much back in return'

Although Garcia admits he hasn't heard much feedback yet from what transpired at St Andrews last week, he remains hopeful that talks progressed as planned. 

"I hope it's moving closer [to unification]," Garcia told GolfMagic.

"I don't know exactly what they talked about last week but yeah I hope it went well. 

"I think that's the goal for everyone. I wish it had happened a while back, but you know, everyone has their own agendas in a way and the way they want things to happen. 

"But look, it's good, they [Monahan and Al-Rumayyan] are sitting, they are talking, it's a good start and hopefully we will hear something soon."

READ OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH GARCIA

Sergio Garcia was speaking exclusively to GolfMagic ahead of FORE Kids ATX, a two-day golf charity event founded by himself and his wife, Angela Garcia.

Since its inception in 2022, FORE Kids ATX has raised more than $5m for organizations that improve the lives, programs and healthcare services for children and families in Texas.

For more information, please visit the FORE Kids ATX website here.