MARANA (AZ) — A gentler, more patient Sergio Garcia arrived at the Gallery Golf Club last week, refusing to be tempted by Rory McIlroy and anyone else on the PGA Tour.
Garcia stated that everyone has an opinion as he made his way to another top-10 finish on the LIV Tour. “Obviously, everyone will talk. We are very content where we are. We love the product. It’s easy to see the details. Ask them!”
This is the famous man who was captured on TV saying that he couldn’t wait “to leave this tour” last year at the Wells Fargo Championship after a ruling didn’t go his way. McIlroy was also criticized for not being mature enough to remove Garcia’s number form his phone, after McIlroy received an angry text. He didn’t take McIlroy’s bait despite all this.
Sergio joined LIV Golf last year and even complimented it after recent changes that resulted in no-cut events with fewer fields and higher purses.
Do you sound familiar?
He said, “I’m happy about the PGA Tour because my friends are there and deserve everything they get.” “And I’m happy to be there.”
However, this does not mean that friendships with McIlroy (the best man at his wedding) will be restored. Garcia seems to be on the right track.
Perhaps he’s softening? Maybe Garcia is tired of all the bickering between the commissioners and the players on both tours.
Eugenio Chacarra from Fireballs GC, and Captain Sergio Garcia (Fireballs GC) wait at the 18th green during the final round LIV Golf Tucson at Gallery Golf Club on Sunday Mar. Tucson, Arizona, 19 March 2023 (Photo by Montana Pritchard/LIV golf)
Maybe he’s simply playing better.
Garcia finished in the top 10 for seven LIV events on Sunday, with a T6 at LIV Tucson. For the 54-hole Gallery Golf Club event, Garcia was 7-under-206. Sunday’s closing score was 73.
Garcia’s top 10s are the same as those he has had at his 42 PGA Tour events.
It could have been so much worse. Garcia was in second place on Sunday, just two shots behind the lead. Garcia was two shots behind the lead after three bogeys on the front nine. He was still in the top 10. He secured his spot on 16 with a birdie.
Captain Garcia and his Fireballs teammates celebrated on the 18th hole after winning the team championship. Carlos Ortiz, who shot a 65 Sunday to lead the four-man team, finished at 9-under. Danny Lee won the individual title by winning the playoff hole with Danny Lee.
After a bogey on his first playoff hole, Ortiz tied for second.
Garcia stated, “Great to win that team victory.” “I would have loved for you to play better. Carlos could not believe he was able to play under such conditions.
Garcia didn’t feel at home Sunday night, calling it “one those days.”
He said, “I didn’t feel it.” “Because I wasn’t feeling it, I wasn’t confident.”
He was pushed to the top by the putter on Saturday but it wasn’t as strong as the previous two days.
Garcia’s ability to drive and strike the ball has never been in doubt. His putting is so bad that he has spent the last three weeks playing at home in Orlando with his grip. He was using the claw grip on Sunday.
This man broke a putter in the 2017 Dell Technologies Championship, forcing him to birdie from 13 feet with his 3-wood. He five-putted at 8 feet during The Players Championship in 2016.
After achieving the lowest round Saturday (66), he stated that he felt much better after working on his putt for the past year and a quarter. He also lost some of that feeling Sunday.
“Disappointing,” Garcia said. Garcia said, “It felt like it could’ve been a great opportunity to at least make the playoff.”
He was still on the podium with his teammates.
