As the 15-time major champion recovers from his latest surgery, Garcia has reignited their long-standing feud with a pointed remark about fitness and a claim that he is “not afraid” of the legendary player.
While Tiger Woods focuses on a grueling recovery from his sixth major surgery, rival Sergio Garcia has seemingly fired the latest shot in their two-decade-long war of words. In a recent interview, the LIV Golf star delivered a cryptic yet pointed message regarding Woods’ physical condition, suggesting that the balance of power has shifted while the 15-time major champion is sidelined .
Speaking on the “No Bad Lies” podcast, Garcia didn’t hold back when asked about his relationship with Woods. Although he claimed things are “all good” publicly, he admitted that Woods is “not my favorite guy to play with” and doubled down on past criticisms, calling him “not the nicest guy on tour” .
The most striking comments, however, concerned their physical states. With Woods currently recovering from Achilles tendon surgery—his latest in a long history of debilitating injuries—Garcia was asked who would win in a fight. “Well, at the moment I think me,” Garcia responded with a smirk. “Obviously, right now, I think I’d win. He’s not in the best shape” .
The dig serves as a reminder of the pair’s notoriously spiky history, which dates back to the 1999 PGA Championship. However, tensions boiled over most famously at the 2013 Players Championship when Garcia accused Woods of causing a distraction by pulling a club from his bag mid-swing. The feud reached a low point later that year when Garcia made a “fried chicken” remark directed at Woods, a comment he later apologized for but which permanently stained their rivalry .
Garcia, now 46 and competing on the LIV Golf circuit, has notably avoided the injury woes that have plagued Woods’ career. The Spaniard recently boasted about his fitness levels, crediting his wife and an active lifestyle for keeping him in top shape while Woods endures yet another stint on the sidelines . Reflecting on their rivalry in a 2010 interview with CNN, Garcia had taken a more diplomatic tone regarding Woods’ resilience, but his recent comments suggest that old tensions die hard .
“He can and will beat me a lot of times, but he is not going to step on me,” Garcia once said during the height of their animosity. “I’m not afraid of him” .
As Woods remains out of the public eye, rehabbing with the hope of one day competing again, Garcia’s remarks have reignited the narrative of one of golf’s most bitter rivalries. For now, the “Garcia vs. Woods” scorecard remains unsettled, with the Spaniard claiming the victory—at least in the gym.
