Sergio Garcia couldn’t recreate the form that saw him win The Masters six years ago as he missed the cut at Augusta National. However. after Jon Rahm eased to a four-shot victory over Garcia’s fellow LIV Golfers Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, he was quick to offer his congratulations to his compatriot.
The 43-year-old wrote on Instagram: “Amazing display of golf from my friend and fellow Spaniard @jonrahm. Can’t wait for next year’s champions dinner. Welcome to our very special club!”
Garcia's warm words came after Rahm became the fourth Spaniard to claim the Green Jacket. Not only that, but he achieved it on what would have been two-time winner Seve Ballesteros’s 66th birthday. Following his win, the other Spaniard to win The Masters, Jose Maria Olazabal, hugged Rahm as he left the green.
Garcia’s message was another sign that any fears of tension between LIV Golf players and those on other circuits were unfounded. First, the Champions Dinner, which Garcia attended, passed without incident, with three-time Masters champion Sir Nick Faldo tweeting it was "calm and cool," unlike the tortilla soup, which he described as "spicy hot."
Then, following his two-over first round, Garcia raged at a reporter over the line of questioning related to how LIV Golf players were being received at the tournament and said: “I've had nothing but great things from every single player I talk to“.
More evidence of the respect between LIV Golf players and PGA Tour counterparts came after Rahm’s winning putt, when Koepka embraced his opponent, and later revealed: "I just said congrats. He's been playing really well for a while now."
There was already evidence to suggest Rahm's relationship with Garcia hadn't suffered as a result of the latter's move to LIV Golf. After last year's 150th Open, Rahm defended Garcia. On the subject of Garcia's precarious status on the DP World Tour at that time, Rahm said: “I understand the reasons why golfers who play LIV Golf do it and it’s a shame they have to relinquish their status on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
"Sergio knows very well that he has dedicated his life to the European Tour in his 25 years as a pro. That they turn their backs on him that way doesn’t seem right to me. And it is what it is. It is not my decision and that he has to make this decision, it hurts me."
After Rahm claim his second Major win, Garcia’s circuit also sent a message congratulating him, writing on Twitter: “Huge congratulations to @JonRahmpga and everyone at @TheMasters. A thrilling week of golf that has set the tone for a great year of Major Championships.”
Later this week, Rahm is expected to play in the PGA Tour's latest designated event, the RBC Heritage, while next on the agenda for Garcia is a trip to Australia for the first LIV Golf event in the country, beginning on 21 April.
