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There are few figures in golf quite as petty as Sergio Garcia.
The Spaniard, who at one time was billed as golf’s next big star, has landed himself in a number of controversies throughout his career.
From racist comments about Tiger Woods to destroying a bunker in Saudi Arabia, Garcia just can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble.
Ironically, it’s 2017 Masters champion’s move to the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Series that has landed him in hot water this time around.
The DP World Tour (former the European Tour) fined Garcia and 16 other golfers, then DP World Tour members, for competing in LIV Golf’s first two events last summer.
The tour now claims that 16 of the 17 golfers have paid their £100,000 fines. Garcia, however, has not.
“The DP World Tour today confirmed that 16 out of 17 players have paid their fines which were imposed for serious breaches of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation last June.
The players were each fined £100,000 – a sanction originally imposed in July 2022 and upheld last month by an independent panel appointed by Sport Resolutions.
The 16 players are: Richard Bland, Laurie Canter, Branden Grace, Justin Harding, Sam Horsfield, Martin Kaymer, Pablo Larrazabal, Graeme McDowell, Shaun Norris, Wade Ormsby, Adrian Otaegui, Ian Poulter, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger.
Sergio Garcia has not paid his £100,000 fine, nor has he given any indication that he intends to. We will therefore take appropriate action if he continues not to respect the Sport Resolutions panel’s decision,” the tour said on its website.
Additionally, Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated reports that LIV has offered to pay the fines for all golfers involved.
LIV made clear to the players earlier that they would handle any legal issues/fines in the manner the player chose. They did not comment on this specifically but it suggests he did not want to pay it even though LIV would have for him. https://t.co/IHwDzVWN5t
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) May 4, 2023
Garcia, however, is not taking them up on the offer.
Instead, it appears he’s prepared to face any potential legal battle stemming for the matter. It’s a bold choice, and one that is classic Sergio Garcia.
Some things never change.