Why Nick Faldo called out Sergio Garcia again in the ongoing LIV Golf divide

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Since stepping away from professional golf, Sir Nick Faldo has built a reputation for being one of the sport’s more forthright commentators. Faldo has criticised LIV Golf in the past, questioning whether their players still have the drive to compete at the highest level. He’s never been shy about sharing his views on today’s game, often calling things as he sees them. That directness is part of what has made his commentary career so successful over the years. While Faldo recently called out US players receiving payments to play in the Ryder Cup, it was a dispute between two European stars that caught his attention back in 2022. Nick Faldo took one player’s side after Sergio Garcia vs Rory McIlroy spat Faldo is someone who journalists always turn to when any kind of controversy in the world of professional golf emerges. Back in 2023, Faldo didn’t wait for a question—he waded straight into an argument between two of the sport’s most recognisable names. Sergio Garcia was locked in a public dispute with Rory McIlroy, and the six-time major winner didn’t hold back on his thoughts. McIlroy had been openly critical of LIV Golf and its breakaway from the PGA Tour, while Garcia fired back without holding anything back. The Spaniard said: “I think it is very sad. I think that we’ve done so many things together and had so many experiences that for him to throw that away just because I decided to go to a different tour, well, it doesn’t seem very mature; lacking maturity, really.” Faldo then took to his X account and sided with McIlroy. The history between Faldo and Garcia goes back further than this exchange. Their relationship has never really recovered since the 2008 Ryder Cup, where Faldo captained Europe. Following Europe’s loss to the USA at Valhalla, Faldo famously labelled Garcia as ‘useless,’ a comment that drew plenty of backlash at the time. But as ever, he stood by his words, staying true to his direct style regardless of how they were received. What Sergio Garcia said about his relationship with Rory McIlroy before LIV Back in 2024, Garcia spoke openly about whether he considered McIlroy a genuine friend during their time together on the PGA Tour. He said: “I feel like I’m fortunate to have a lot of friends. I have always had a good relationship with a lot of players. On the PGA Tour I got along very well with Rory, Tommy Fleetwood, Luke Donald and Rickie Fowler. “On LIV, I have a really good relationship with my teammates at Fireballs: Joaquin Niemann, Carlos Ortiz, and Bryson. We are having a good time out there.” Their dynamic might not be the same as it once was, but that’s often how things go in professional sports when paths start to diverge. And while they may never repair things fully, you’d hope two players who were once close could eventually move past what happened.