The past year of LIV Golf -related discourse is clearly catching up with Sergio Garcia as the star showed frustration with a reporter's queries at the 2023 Masters.
Garcia was one of the marquee names who jumped ship early to join the Saudi-backed golf rival almost 12 months ago. The topic has dominated the sport ever since, and that focus combined with a wayward performance in Georgia saw Garcia encourage the media to talk about something else.
But the 2017 Masters champion bristled when quizzed on whether it felt normal to return to Augusta given the context of the past 12 months. Though the reporter failed to mention LIV specifically, Garcia hit back after he was asked about 'concentrating on his game' amid the furore that's erupted as a result of the exodus.
“Totally normal,” replied the 43-year-old. “Just you guys [the media], you guys need to stop it. You guys are making a big deal out of this, and it’s you guys.”
The Spaniard repeatedly insisted "it is" the media inflating the topic after the journalist involved denied that was true. Garcia then declared he had “had nothing but great things from every single player" he'd talked to.
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"So please stop it and talk about the Masters," he continued. There's been less golf than normal to discuss at Augusta after heavy rain forced Friday's second round to be suspended early.
Garcia completed a two-over-par 74 on Thursday before carding an even more disappointing 77 in the second round to miss the cut for the fourth time in his last five Masters appearances. The incensed interview took place after his Day 1 display before the worst of the weather set in at the Georgia major.
Upon being pushed back, the reporter attempted to clarify he was gesturing to the fact Garcia's new commitments meant he hadn't has "as many reps" leading up to the tournament as usual. That suggestion was met with further contempt, however, as Garcia cast doubt as to whether that was the question's true intent.
“No, I don’t think you meant that," he added. "But I did play—I played one, two, three, four—I played five tournaments coming in here. So it’s pretty good. There’s been times where I probably maybe haven’t played that much coming into here But it’s usually around that, four, five, six tournaments. But that wasn’t the problem.”
Garcia was also pressed on whether he had heard about the result of LIV Golf's arbitration hearing against the DP World Tour, which upheld the competition's right to fine and sanction players who play on the Saudi-funded series. Insisting he wasn't up to speed on the findings, Garcia laughed off the line of questioning and said he "probably won't catch up on it."
