Garcia: McIlroy's lack of maturity over LIV move ended friendship

While many professional golfers have remained friends regardless of affiliation to the PGA TOUR or LIV Golf, that hasn't been the case with former Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy.

"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," Garcia said ahead of LIV Golf's 2023 season opener in Mexico, according to James Corrigan of The Telegraph. "Lacking maturity, really,"

The European pair became close friends over the years on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, and McIlroy served as a groomsman at Garcia's wedding in 2017.

However, Garcia's decision to join LIV Golf last year caused a fracture in the relationship, with McIlroy divulging to the Irish Independent in December that they stopped communication over the manner in which the Spaniard left.

Garcia said he's open to patching the relationship up but didn't think the World No. 3 was interested.

"I don't have a problem with him. He's the one that has a problem," Garcia said, per Corrigan. "So if he wants to reconcile, then I'm willing to talk."

Garcia was one of the first players to join LIV and participated in its inaugural tournament in June 2022. The 43-year-old's departure from the PGA TOUR came a few weeks after he was caught on camera berating a rules official at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Garcia and McIlroy will be in close proximity in April when the Masters begins. Garcia has a lifetime exemption into the event due to his dramatic victory in 2017. While it's highly unlikely the two would be paired together in the opening rounds, they could cross paths on the grounds.