While the formation of LIV Golf was a seismic moment for professional golf as a whole, it also had an impact on players on a personal level. Those who crossed the divide and joined the Saudi-backed venture were often criticised by their peers, something that affected their relationships with those remaining on the tour.
Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia were a prime example.
That pair had been incredibly close for a number of years, with McIlroy even acting as a groomsman at the Spaniard's wedding in 2017. However, they became involved in a public and private war of words after Garcia joined LIV Golf.
The Northern Irishman criticised his friend for basing his decision to switch tours around money, and after McIlroy aired his grievances about the move in an interview with the Irish Independent, the 43-year old said:
I think it is very sad. 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.
The two have not been on speaking terms since then, although it seems that could be about to change on the back of last week's US Open.
Rory McIlroy & Sergio Garcia cross paths at US Open
With the PGA Tour and LIV Golf no longer at war, it has opened the door for the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia to be repaired.
According to Spanish outlet Ten Golf, Garcia sent a text to the Holywood native ahead of the US Open asking to sit down and sort out their issues.
That was followed up with the pair crossing paths on the course at the Los Angeles Country Club during Sunday's final round. As Garcia was finishing up on the 18th green and McIlroy was teeing off on the 1st, the 34-year old appeared to make a 'call me' gesture by lifting his fingers to his ear.
That was a significant moment in the relationship between the pair, which had been non-existent over the last year or so.
With LIV Golf players likely to make a return to the PGA Tour in the near future, you would imagine that they will soon put their issues behind them and reignite their friendship.
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