Sergio Garcia has praised Rory McIlroy's shift in stance towards LIV Golf , as tensions within the sport seem to be subsiding .
McIlroy and Garcia, once close friends and Ryder Cup teammates, had their relationship strained when Garcia chose to leave the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for the LIV setup. The Northern Irishman was one of the most vocal critics of the breakaway league , previously criticising the decision made by Garcia and others.
However, just over two years later, McIlroy seems to have changed his mind about the Saudi-funded league , with the PGA Tour currently in talks with LIV bosses about a potential peace deal.
"I think it's great," Garcia told GolfMagic about McIlroy's warming attitude towards the LIV league. "I think at the end of the day it shows we're all very emotional and we try to defend our positions and stuff like that, but at the end of the day, it shows we all want to go in the same direction and make golf better."
"That's the most important thing. Rory has seen that, he realises that trying to fight each other is not going to help anyone, and it's definitely not going to help the game."
McIlroy's change of heart seemed to be confirmed at last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he played alongside LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Pro-Am event.
During the first day, when Al-Rumayyan joined PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan for a round of golf, Rory McIlroy was spotted sharing a friendly chat with the Saudi chief at the driving range. Their conversation continued into the next day on the fairways.
Sergio Garcia observed the positive interactions in Scotland and expressed his hope for unity in the sport: "I hope it's moving closer [to unification]," he said. "I don't know exactly what they talked about last week but yeah I hope it went well."
"I think that's the goal for everyone. I wish it had happened a while back, but you know, everyone has their own agendas in a way and the way they want things to happen. But look, it's good, they [Monahan and Al-Rumayyan] are sitting, they are talking, it's a good start and hopefully we will hear something soon."
McIlroy shared similar sentiments regarding a potential 'merger': "There's no better place than the home of golf to try and get everyone together and talking," he remarked last week. "I think it's a great thing and a good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together on Thursday, and you've got quite a big contingent from LIV that are playing this event."
"It's a matter of trying to get all the different constituents on board because I think the sponsors want the same thing. I think everyone just wants to see the game of golf come back together and have all of the best players playing together."
"And try to make it a bit more global, as well. I think there are a lot of people on board with that and it's just a matter of trying to work through the various sort of complicated issues that there are to try to get it done."
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