The 100th major Sergio Garcia will have to wait till next year. The former Masters champion filed to punch his ticket to Royal Troon. But it’s not sympathy but sneers from fans that’s reserved for the 44-year-old LIV Golf pro.
Sergio Garcia was put on the clock at Liverpool’s West Lancashire Golf Club for slow play. However, the Spaniard believed he suffered because of poor crowd management. The former Masters champion said he had to stop at every tee for two to three minutes because of spectators walking on the fairways and around the tee box.
But the tournament officials didn’t take that into account. “It made us rush. On a day like today when the conditions are so tricky and you might need a little of bit of extra time here and there it doesn’t help out. Because of that I made a couple of bogeys that might cost me getting to Troon,” Garcia said after the round.
The Fireballs GC captain shot 71 and 70 to miss the mark by two strokes. Four spots were available in Liverpool; Garcia settled for sixth at 3-under. The veteran was caught on camera arguing with the rules officials regarding the slow play. “It’s OK, don’t worry. You’re always right, we’re wrong,” the LIV Golf pro was heard expressing his frustration.
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However, Garcia’s history of tantrums and meltdowns on and off the course doesn’t earn him any sympathy. Moreover, the LIV Golfer alienated a section of traditional golf fans when he joined the PIF-funded side. They are yet to forget any of that, as the comments under the post reveal.
Angry fans rub salt into Sergio Garcia’s Open wounds
Garcia’s career glitters with 11 victories on the PGA Tour, including a PLAYERS Championship triumph and a Green Jacket. Add to that his 20 titles amassed across the globe. It’s an envious resume for any pro golfer. Yet, rather than getting lauded, Garcia gets berated for his tantrums.
The Spaniard allegedly damaged five greens in 2019 Saudi International, resulting in a disqualification. In the 2012 U.S. Open, Garcia rammed his club on an ESPN tee-box microphone, breaking it in two. Allegedly, in the 2007 WGC-CA Championship, the former Masters champion spat on the 13th hole in Trump Doral after a bogey.
Unsurprisingly, the popular sentiment on social media was against him. One disgruntled fan tweeted, “Nothing is ever his fault.” Another quipped, “Don’t ever change Sergio. Oh wait…. You haven’t.”
Sergio Garcia blamed luck, fans, club choices, and even playing mates for a bad day on the greens. Notably, in the 2013 PLAYERS Championship, Garcia said his playing partner, Tiger Woods bringing out his club during his backswing cost him a bad shot. One user wrote, “Does LIV have an award for Whiner of the Year? Sergio wins it every year.”
Some, however, thought Sergio Garcia was not used to playing in front of a large crowd. The obvious dig was at LIV Golf. “My dude forgot what it’s liked to play in front of crowds,” one LIV Golf critic joked. Another sarcastically asked, “Been that long since he’s played in front of fans?
Sergio Garcia last played at the Open Championship in 2022. The 44-year-old has never won the major of his erstwhile home tour. Garcia had two close calls, the first in 2007 and the last in 2014 both times losing in a playoff. This year, the Fireballs captain played two of the three majors, missing the cut at Augusta and tying for 12th at Pinehurst No. 2.
