Sir Nick Faldo Calls Sergio Garcia ‘Most Immature Player I’ve Ever Seen’
The six-time Major winner has hit back at the Spaniard’s claim that Rory McIlroy was lacking maturity over their feud
![Sir Nick Faldo takes a shot at the 2022 JP McManus Pro-Am](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WJCVwvgA4tMv48wVuDLrVh-415-80.jpg)
Sir Nick Faldo has criticised Sergio Garcia’s comments on former friend Rory McIlroy, where the Spaniard declared he was lacking maturity over their well-publicised feud.
LIV Golf player Garcia made the comment in an interview with The Telegraph, where he 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.”
However, Faldo suggested that the volatile Spaniard was far from the ideal person to be making such a comment. The six-time Major winner wrote on Twitter: “Now this is rich coming from the most immature player I’ve ever witnessed!!”
Now this is rich coming from the most immature player I’ve ever witnessed!! Sergio Garcia says Rory McIlroy is 'lacking maturity' over LIV Golf comments - USA TODAY https://t.co/vJOUkejn8GFebruary 25, 2023
It’s not the first time Faldo has taken issue with Garcia’s personality. Faldo captained him at the 2008 Ryder Cup, when Team Europe lost to Team USA. Six years after that tournament, Faldo said of Garcia’s contribution: “He was useless. Half a point, bad attitude.”
Garcia, of course, eventually enjoyed a glittering Ryder Cup career and is the team’s record points scorer in the biennial tournament. However, while those contributions helped him to become one of the most revered players of his generation, he is also well-known for his hot-headedness.
Two of the most recent have come in the last year, firstly not long before he moved to LIV Golf, where he raged at a rules official during last May’s Wells Fargo Championship and declared he “can’t wait to leave this Tour.” He duly made the switch, but then reportedly flew off the handle in an expletive-laden rant at the BMW International Open on the DP World Tour in response to the tours sanctioning of players teeing it up on the rival circuit a few weeks earlier.
McIlroy has said there is “no way” his friendship with Garcia can be rekindled. Given Faldo’s remark, it seems likely he won’t be handed an olive branch from the 65-year-old any time soon either.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
I've Suffered With The Shanks For A Year And My Golf Game Is In Tatters. Can Anything Help?
It's a shot that can keep golfers awake at night, as Michael Weston has unfortunately discovered in recent times
By Michael Weston Published
-
Dan Grieve 25 Handicap Lesson: Better Bunker Play
Dan Grieve gives a high handicap golfer a lesson in the sand to get the ball out of the bunker consistently every time
By Joel Tadman Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reacts To First Open Missed Cut In Five Years
The four-time Major winner struggled yet again on Friday, as McIlroy stuttered to a four-over-par round of 75 to miss the cut comfortably at Royal Troon
By Matt Cradock Published
-
9 Big Names To Miss The Cut At The 2024 Open
A number of box office names are heading home early after missing the cut at Royal Troon
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Rory McIlroy Gets Putting Tips From Luke Donald Ahead Of Open Championship
The world No.2 said he picked the brain of Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald to help with getting a feel of the greens at Royal Troon
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
‘I Blanked Tiger Woods’ - Rory McIlroy Admits Never Receiving Woods' Message After Changing His Number
Tiger Woods reached out to console McIlroy after his US Open collapse but the Northern Irishman admits missing the message
By James Nursey Published
-
Everything Rory McIlroy Said Ahead Of The 152nd Open
From his game being in "really good shape" to accidentally blanking Tiger Woods, here's everything McIlroy said ahead of Troon
By Elliott Heath Last updated
-
'I Have Felt So Sorry For Rory' – Gary Player 'Pulling' For McIlroy To Win Open After Pinehurst Agony
Gary Player spoke to Golf Monthly about Rory’s struggles, Bryson’s bravado, Jon Rahm’s millions and Troon’s “easy” front nine.
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
'Erratic Band Of Rain' Set To Cause Havoc At Royal Troon? Open Championship Set For Wet Moving Day
The weather at Royal Troon is set to turn very wet on Saturday as those who make the cut battle towards the title in heavy rain
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Rory McIlroy Reveals He ‘Contemplated’ Player-Captain Role At Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy rejected an approach to be Ryder Cup player-captain in Ireland in 2027 - and says Keegan Bradley won't be able to do both if the USA skipper qualifies for his own team
By Paul Higham Published