Sergio Garcia has hit back at fellow Green Jacket winner Fred Couples after the American veteran called him a "clown" for the manner of his defection to LIV Golf.
The level of consternation within golf's ongoing civil war was emphasised last week when the usually mild-mannered former Masters champion Couples made some surprise shots at LIV rebels.
During a guest speech at a PGA Tour Champions event, Couples labelled Phil Mickelson a "nutbag" and referenced "all these other clowns, like Sergio”, who voiced their disdain for the PGA Tour before joining the contentious Saudi-funded LIV breakaway.
Couples made it clear that he had no anger towards the LIV renegades who ditched the PGA Tour in pursuit of the Saudi millions, but his frustration lies with those who ridiculed the American circuit that had provided a platform for their success.
And Garcia, who claimed he "can't wait to leave" the PGA Tour in an explosive on-course rant just before his LIV move, is 'disappointed' by the comments made by Couples.
Spaniard Garcia - Europe's all-time record points scorer in the Ryder Cup - reacted to the 63-year-old's jibe during LIV's second event of the season at Tuscon in Arizona.
“It's what it is,” Garcia told Sports Illustrated. "It's disappointing because I don't know where he's going with this. But it's Freddy so he can say whatever he wants and then we can say whatever we want. I think at the end of the day his life is his life and my life in this case is my life.
"So, I don't think he should comment on what me or any of these other guys should have done because we didn't tell him what he had to do. Even if I wasn't [happy with joining LIV], it’s my problem, not his.”
Garcia and Couples now face an awkward meeting at next month's Masters Champions Dinner, in what is expected to be a somewhat uncomfortable pre-tournament event due to strained relationships between LIV players and loyal backers of the sport's traditional ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Garcia's Fireballs GC team won their second team title on Sunday as new LIV signing Danny Lee won his first event in eight years in a four-man playoff at the Tuscon event.
