Sergio Garcia bites back at LIV critics in staunch defence of breakaway league
Sergio Garcia used Joaquin Niemann's historic 12-under-par 59 at LIV Mayakoba to hit back at the breakaway league's critics following Friday's opening round.
LIV kicked off its 2024 campaign in style thanks to Niemann, as he became only the second player in the league's history to break 60. The Chilean showed exactly why he is one of golf's most in-form stars, carding 10 birdies and an eagle across his first 18 holes in Mexico.
The round of 59 puts Niemann in pole position to win his first ever LIV Golf title heading into the weekend, but one man who will be keen to chase him down is Fireballs captain Garcia.
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The Spaniard put together an impressive opening round of his own, starting his season with a six-under 65 to leave him six shots back in third. In the aftermath, Garcia had his say on Niemann's masterclass and hit back at those who had doubted the ability of the LIV membership.
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He said: "Yeah, amazing. Not bad for people that can't play golf anymore. We have one 58 and a 59. It's unbelievable. Like I was out there today, and I obviously started really well. I was six-under through eight, I think, and I looked and I was like two or three shots back. I was like, what's going on?"
Praising the tournament leader, he added: "Obviously very, very impressive the way he played. This course is not easy, even though there wasn't much wind today. It's very tight, and as soon as you miss your tee shot a little bit, it's automatic drop.
Joaquin Niemann stole the show in Mayakoba ((Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images))"It becomes very challenging. Obviously an amazing round for him." Like Niemann, Garcia is also yet to get over the line on the breakaway league after making the Saudi switch two years ago. His best showing came in Singapore last year, where he was defeated in a playoff by 2023 individual champion Talor Gooch.
And whilst Niemann's fast start may mean he will have to wait a little longer for his maiden LIV crowning, he was more than pleased with the way he kicked off his own campaign. "Yeah, obviously very happy with my round," Garcia added.
"My swing the last week or so hasn't been feeling amazing, so very happy to play the way I played, the way I started. Obviously a couple shots here and there that I need to avoid. But other than that, I felt like I did well. I started really, really well, and it was a solid day."
Quizzed on what it will take to chase down Niemann over the weekend, Garcia went on: "You've got to go out there, and it's not easy to shoot six-under on this course, so don't even think about 12. It's as simple as going out there, trying to play the best you can. That's the only thing you can do.
"If Joaco goes out there and shoots three or four-under and three- or four-under on the weekend, there's nothing really to do. It's not that easy to shoot eight, nine or 10-under par on this course. At the end of the day, you still have to play well. You still have to bring as much as possible to your team and hopefully do well on that aspect, too."
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