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"I think it is very sad," Garcia, 43, told the
Telegraph on Thursday ahead of this weekend's LIV season opener
at Mayakoba. "I think that we've done so many things together
and had so many experiences that for him to throw that away just
because I decided to go to a different tour, well, it doesn't
seem very mature; lacking maturity, really.
"But Rory's got his own life, and he makes his own choices, the
same way that I make mine. I respect his choices, but it seems
like he doesn't respect the ones I make. So, one-way street."
McIlroy, 33, partnered with Garcia in the Ryder Cup and served
as a groomsman at his wedding in 2017. McIlroy, however, told
the Irish Independent that he was offended that Garcia sent him
a text during last year's U.S. Open "basically telling me to
shut up about LIV, blah, blah, blah."
Garcia told the Telegraph he'd be open to clearing the air, but
it doesn't appear that will happen.
"Sure, I don't have a problem with him," Garcia said. "He's the
one that has a problem. So if he wants to reconcile, then I'm
willing to talk, but I'm not sure he'll put himself down to that
level."
If the LIV players win an arbitration case that would allow them
to remain on the DP World Tour, the rift between the two stars
could grow deeper. It would allow Garcia -- the all-time Ryder
Cup points leader -- and other LIV members earn points toward
automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup. Also, if they play
well enough but don't automatically qualify, European captain
Luke Donald could add them with any of his six wild-card
selections.
"I wouldn't want to harm the atmosphere in the team room,"
Garcia told the Telegraph. "I love that event too much for
that."
--Field Level Media
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