Sergio Garcia and Sir Nick Faldo communicate on the 2008 Ryder Cup – Eddie Keogh/Reuters
Sir Nick Faldo has ridiculed Sergio Garcia for claiming Rory McIlroy “lacked maturity” by labelling the Spaniard the “most immature participant I’ve ever witnessed”.
Garcia made the feedback in an unique interview with Telegraph Sport right here on the Mayakoba resort the place the 2017 Master champion has been competing within the first LIV Golf occasion of the yr.
When requested what he considered McIlroy – who had been one among his closest associates within the recreation and who had acted as Garcia’s groomsman at his marriage ceremony – slicing off the connection after the duo had rowed by textual content messages over the latter becoming a member of the Saudi-funded circuit, Garcia was brutally frank.
“I believe it is vitally unhappy,” Garcia mentioned. “We’ve accomplished so many issues collectively and had so many experiences collectively that for him to throw that away simply because I made a decision to go to a distinct tour, effectively, it doesn’t appear very mature; missing maturity, actually.”
Sergio Garcia (left) and Rory McIlroy (proper) fist bump – Franck Fife/AFP
The golf world was fast to see the irony in that assertion, not least Faldo, who’s Europe’s most profitable golfer with six majors. “Now that is wealthy coming from probably the most immature participant I’ve ever witnessed!” he posted on social media.
It should be mentioned that Garcia and Faldo have historical past. At the 2008 Ryder Cup, Garcia – who since that defeat in Kentucky has turn out to be the main points-scorer within the biennial dust-up’s historical past – solely gained half some extent and Faldo, the captain that yr, later mentioned dwell on TV that Garcia had been “ineffective”.
Sergio Garcia tosses away his putter on the 2008 Ryder Cup – Harry How/Getty Images
“Half some extent, dangerous angle,” Faldo mentioned. “He was at all times labeled as the person who brings emotion and fervour. We did not have it that week.”
After listening to the criticisms, Garcia declared: “There’s lots of issues I may say about Nick Faldo, however I’m not going to place myself right down to his degree.”
In equity to Faldo, he has been removed from alone in referencing Garcia’s previous brattish behaviour. In his garlanded, but additionally controversial, profession, Garcia has been reprimanded for – amongst different issues – throwing a shoe at a guidelines official, spitting in a cup and damaging greens together with his putter.
McIlroy at all times defended his former Ryder Cup accomplice and emphasised the bond that the pair felt when admitting to crying when Garcia ultimately broke his main drought at Augusta six years in the past. “It was a goosebump second,” the Northern Irishman mentioned on the time. But though Garcia indicated he could be keen to speak and attempt to reconcile, that now appears extremely unlikely.
Meanwhile, Garcia completed in a tie for twenty third on level-par after a final-round 72, 15 photographs behind winner Charles Howell. The American veteran is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, however this $4million first prize was nearly 4 occasions greater than his earlier largest payday.
