Bolton, MA – Sergio Garcia is enjoying his new life as a Leaf golfer. But on the DP World Tour, where he has become one of Europe’s biggest stars over the past two decades, the Spaniard is expecting some tension when he and more than a dozen other LIV recruits return next week for its main event, the BMW PGA Championship.
Saturday at LIV Golf Invitational Boston, 2017 Masters Champion Join fellow European Martin Kaymer In anticipating a degree of friction in the $8 million BMW PGA in Wentworth. This is because 18 players from LIV Golf are competing in the DP World Tour event in England due to a legal decision in the UK.
“I’m sure some players will be nervous about it [because] We’ll go there and play; What I will do is support the European Tour and that is all I can do. Whoever doesn’t like it, it’s too bad for them,” Garcia told Golf Digest at The International outside Boston, after firing six under-64 shots to sit at six under the overall and six shots behind 36-hole leader Taylor Gotch.
Garcia’s comments come days after the two-time main winner Kaymer was announced He was skipping the event due to constant friction. But Garcia, a 16-time winner of the previous European Tour, will be joined by fellow LIV golfers at Wentworth, including Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, along with Gotsch, Patrick Reed, Abraham Anser and Kevin Na — all In the field courtesy of their place within the top 60 in the world rankings.
While LIV Golfers have been banned by the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour’s bylaws prevent such long-term penalties. DP World Tour officials initially fined and suspended members who departed for the LIV for three summer events, but a British ruling temporarily lifted the suspension pending a full legal review scheduled for February 2023.
Those tensions include Keith Bailey, DP World’s head of tours, distributing a note to members stating that LIV golfers will not participate in the pro or premium group telecast while also asking LIV golfers to “consider not wearing LIV Golf branded clothing.” in Wentworth.
Rory McIlroy, a member of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, said after winning the FedEx Cup title on the PGA Tour last week that it would be “hard for me to bear to go to Wentworth in two weeks and see them there.”
Despite the current split in professional golf, the 42-year-old Garcia said he is happy to join LIV, which has sparked controversy due to its funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
An 11-time winner of the PGA Tour, Garcia ended his career on the US circuit under harsh conditions. At a Wells Fargo event outside Washington, D.C., in May, he said he “can’t wait to leave this tour” After getting involved in the rules issue he felt like a wrong decision was made. Garcia played all four events of the opening LIV series with respectable results, including a T-6 in his leg in Bedminster, NJ. Outside of LIV, Garcia has also competed in the BMW International Open for the DP World Tour in Germany, the US Open, and the Open Championship.
LIV Golf has distinguished itself from major golf rounds by offering guaranteed profitable financial contracts for the 48 players, as well as 54-hole events featuring a $20 million individual component and a $5 million team coordination. LIV is also blasting music about its host tournaments as it announces on Friday that all players can Compete in shorts during the tournament rounds.
Garcia said he was comfortable playing LIV Golf.
“It was fantastic; every time I look at my decision to join Liv, it confirms that I am very happy with everything we are doing, not only personally but also in the development of the game,” said Garcia. “I think it works when you look at the demographics [of fans] About the course it is much smaller. This is clearly a new step. It’s something exciting and new. It feels like the future of golf and it’s nice to be a part of it.”
“I try not to dance too much,” he joked. “I love music. I always listen to music when I’m at home exercising. It makes it a little more relaxing, and a lot easier, I think.”
