Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott have a unique history with each other (Image: 2019 Getty Images)
Sergio Garcia has a gap to fill in his team – and there are few, if any, stars he would want more than Adam Scott. The Spaniard recently waved Eugenio Chacarra away from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund backed rebel tour, after he finished outside of the top 24 and saw his contract expire.
Garcia now has to find a new player to join his Fireballs GC Liv team. Scott and Garcia are close friends who go back more than 20 years, when they were both young players finding their way on the tour.
However, Scott is also one of the most loyal players on the PGA Tour and is yet to show any signs of moving to LIV. If any player could convince the Australian, it would surely be Garcia.
When asked about the state of his team, Garcia recently said: “For the most part it’s going to be pretty much the same team, but there is going to be one new player.
“Unfortunately, Eugenio Chacarra finished outside the top 24 and his contract is up. We are very thankful for everything he’s done this last two and half, three years.
“But we want to see if we can get someone new, a little bit of a different profile kind of player. We are working on it and hopefully we’ll have something before the year ends. It’s exciting to look at different options and looking at someone who could make the team better in every aspect.
“I think that’s the end game, to make the team better as LIV Golf moves forwards. Sometimes you have to make little changes here and there I guess.”
Adam Scott is a popular player in the sport (Image: Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
When probed about potential new recruits for his team, the Spaniard responded with a hinted grin and said: “We don’t have him yet. I wish I could tell you who it is, but it’s a work in progress.”
Despite the fact they are both 44, Garcia took Scott under his wing. The Spaniard offered an inexperienced Scott plenty of words of wisdom over many rounds of dinner, most, if not all, paid for by Garcia. Speaking to the Courier Mail in 2017, Scott looked back on those chats and said: “Sergio was very kind in those early years. He took me under his wing for practice rounds and wouldn’t let me pay for dinners when I was still trying to earn my tour cards. I’ve never forgotten that.”
When asked about the state of the PGA Tour, Scott offered the clearest indication that he will not be leaving the PGA. He said: “I think whether a deal is done with PIF or not, I see it in a good spot.
“Ultimately, the market will decide what it wants. The PGA Tour is still, for sure, the strongest platform and has the strongest players. Even with a competitive tour out there, I still think it will be okay for pro golf players. I think it’s just a time of change, and most people don’t like that.”