It’s been a tumultuous year for Sergio Garcia.
2022 has seen the Spaniard consistently making headlines, but not for winning golf tournaments.
It started in May, when Garcia was playing at the Wells Fargo Championship and hit a ball wayward on the 10th hole. An ESPN+ microphone heard him saying “I can’t wait to leave this tour”.
After losing an argument with a PGA Tour rules official on Thursday, Sergio Garcia waved his hand in disgust and said, “I can’t wait to leave this tour.”
More ?? https://t.co/Jo7NkBYzWb pic.twitter.com/eYyNIKj0cU
— ESPN (@espn) May 6, 2022
Unsurprisingly, Garcia joined LIV Golf the following month. The decision has resulted in him not being able to participate in future Ryder Cups, which along with the 2017 Masters victory has been the highlight of his legacy.
Then, there was the debacle at Wentworth. After playing poorly in his opening round of the BMW PGA Championship, Garcia withdrew from the tournament, failing to provide a valid reason. He was then seen at the Texas vs. Alabama football game the following day.
Garcia reportedly went on a rant before leaving Wentworth, with Robert MacIntyre saying he’d witnessed the whole thing.
Sergio Garcia WD’d from the @BMWPGA but thankfully is healthy enough to attend Texas v Alabama game today back in the states ? #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/VpZVdOtmIR
— LIV Golf GO (@LIVGolfGO) September 10, 2022
In an interview with “The Times”, Garcia spoke about the Ryder Cup along with his alleged rant and withdrawal at Wentworth.
Speaking about the Ryder Cup, Garcia stated that he’s given up on attempting to be involved.
“When I play a Ryder Cup I want to be myself — that’s what I bring extra to the team, being myself and putting my arm around everyone and making them feel better. If there are three or four guys I can’t do that with, what’s the point? I didn’t divide this thing. The shots have been coming from the other side, left and right. I don’t understand why it has to be so personal at the end of the day.”
When discussing Wentworth, the 42-year-old denied that a rant ever took place.
“I don’t even know what they’re talking about. I obviously was sad to see where things were going [with the sanctions], but some guys, apparently Robert MacIntyre and I don’t know who else, are saying I lost it and started shouting. I don’t recall that. I might have said I hate where this is going because I feel like I’m more emotionally involved, but I think everyone took the opportunity to make a big deal out of something that wasn’t.”
Garcia also said that he withdrew from the BMW PGA because of how he was being treated at the event.
“It’s quite simple. I didn’t enjoy the way we were getting treated, not only myself, and for me mentally it was tough to be there and focus after giving more than half my life to the Tour. I was playing great and excited to get there and get some Ryder Cup points and everything, but already on Thursday morning, I wasn’t right. I felt like there was really not much for me to do there; I couldn’t concentrate.”
Garcia and the Fireballs are set to tee it up at Trump Doral for the LIV Golf team finale on Friday.
