Golf might be seen as a bit of a gentleman’s sport in terms of the rules and how the game is played but that doesn’t always mean players have to be the best of friends.
While golf is a game governed by rules and the honesty from players in respecting those rules, we have seen over the years how players can clash with each other.
Patrick Reed has been involved in more than one controversy on the course, while players like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have had very public spats.
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Of course, having been in the game for so long, players like Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia – for example – might have more friends than enemies in our beloved game.
However, when it comes to the relationship between Woods and Garcia themselves, it’s safe to say it’s been strained at times.
How Sergio Garcia annoyed Tiger Woods
Any of us who have watched golf over the years will know that both Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia are two of the most passionate golfers on the planet.
They have a drive to win that exceeds many other players and when it comes to the majors and Ryder Cups, they are two stallions.
However, over the history of their careers, Woods and Garcia haven’t always seen eye to eye.
Indeed, Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, revealed previously where the disdain began for Tiger.
“The reason Tiger dislikes him is that in the clubhouse once he saw Sergio looking up at a television monitor and rooting somebody’s golf ball out of the hole,” Earl has said previously in Tom Callahan’s book, His Father’s Son: Earl and Tiger Woods.
“That’s why he has no use of Sergio.”
Fast forward to 2013 at The Players Championship, and things boiled over further as Garcia didn’t take too kindly to Woods pulling a wood out for a shot from the rough as he prepared to hit his own five-wood off the fairway.
The tensions boiled over afterwards too, with Garcia making an ill-thought out remark about having Woods round for dinner. Woods, of course, responded and wasn’t too happy with Garcia.
”The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate. I’m confident that there is real regret that the remark was made. The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf,” Woods said at the time.
Are Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia friends as of 2025?
The short answer to this really is no.
While there is little from Woods’ side on the subject – which in itself says a lot – Garcia has spoken on the issues and tried to make light of things.
However, even Garcia admitted that their relationship is very much one for the public and strictly professional.
“We meet up and stuff, and it’s all good.” We’ve moved on. At least publicly,” Garcia said on the No Bad Lies Podcast.
Given both are Masters winners and will attend the annual dinner each year, this dynamic is an interesting one.
Indeed, if we could be a fly on the wall inside those dining room walls, we’d be there in a flash!
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