LIV GOLF ANDALUCíA

July 9, 2025

Sergio Garcia

David Puig

Abraham Ancer

Josele Ballester

Real Club Valderrama

Fireballs GC

Press Conference

Q. Sergio, as of today, would you accept a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup?

SERGIO GARCIA: As of the way I played yesterday, yes.

Q. And today?

SERGIO GARCIA: I haven't played yet. I'm working on it.

I had a good conversation with Luke last week, and we both know what we want. The only thing I can do is keep working hard, keep building my confidence up, and if I'm able to do that, then it should be fine. We'll see.

Q. It should be up to you then?

SERGIO GARCIA: Well, the pick is going to be up to him. Up to me is going to be the way I play. Obviously, yeah, if I play well, I think I have a good opportunity, a good chance of being picked. If I don't, then it'll depend a little bit on where I stand or how things are going.

We'll see. Still early.

Q. How will you deal with upcoming DP World Tour fines?

SERGIO GARCIA: How do I deal with them?

Q. Yeah, pay yourself or help from the LIV Tour again?

SERGIO GARCIA: I'll just pay whatever I have to pay. It is what it is. It's not something that I'm focused on. I'm focused on playing golf.

Q. Josele, describe your relationship with Sergio and how instrumental he was in tempting you to turn pro and come to LIV? And Sergio, how good do you think Josele can become?

JOSELE BALLESTER: Well, he's been more than a friend growing up. He's been almost like a mentor. I was fortunate to start working with his dad when I was around 14 years old, and then because of that, I got to know Sergio, and the few times when he was in Spain we would always play together. He would share his knowledge about the game with me, and that's something that I'm always really grateful for. Now kind of following in his footsteps and being here under his arm, it's pretty special.

I know I'm in the right place with the right people, so really, really happy that I can share this experience with him and with the rest of my teammates.

SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, for me, like he mentioned, we've known each other for a long time. I know the kind of person that he is. I know the kind of family that he has around. They're all 10s.

I know the potential that he has, and I just want him to have the possibility of at least starting here with us because I think that it's probably -- it's not easy. Don't get me wrong. Because all of us out here are competitors and amazing players. But at least it's probably a little bit looser than it might be starting on other tours where at least here you're getting round after round after round and you're getting more repetition, you can get in a little bit of a better rhythm than if you start on any other tours, and for whatever reason you don't start well and you're missing cuts and that kind of snowballs mentally.

I hope he made the right decision. I feel like he did. At the end, it comes down to him.

But I just want what's best for him, and I try to help him in any way I can whenever he feels like he needs it.

Q. You've been through a lot yourself in the three years since you joined LIV, obviously the uncertainty of the majors and stuff like that. With that in mind, how special is it to be returning to the Open Championship next week?

SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, it's super special. For me, the Open is my favorite major. I love -- I've always loved playing in front of the British crowds. I'm super excited to go back there and hopefully have a great week.

But to be able to get my spot through the qualifier in LIV, it's already a great achievement that I'm very proud of, and I'm going to do my best out there and hopefully have a great week.

Q. Sergio, you guys won three straight earlier this year. The Crushers are on the same streak now. Is it easier for teams to ride momentum out here on LIV? We've got some winning streaks throughout the years by teams.

SERGIO GARCIA: Good question. Yeah, I guess, like Abraham was saying earlier, with four scores counting every round, I guess if the team is riding some good momentum, some good feelings and all of them are playing consistently, it's maybe a little bit easier to get on one of those hot streaks than if you were choosing, like what we were doing last year, three, three and four, because taking that one extra score can make a big difference. It can be like a four-, five-, six-shot difference.

I think in that aspect, it probably is. But at the same time, it's also easier to kind of go the other way.

I guess it's, what do you call it, a double-edged sword that hopefully you're riding it the right way.

Q. David, you're the only player to have celebrated two team wins out here in the first two years. Does that make you the key to success at Valderrama?

DAVID PUIG: Definitely.

SERGIO GARCIA: Without a doubt, 120 percent.

DAVID PUIG: Yeah, I'm the favorite for sure. No, I'm just kidding.

Yeah, I was lucky enough to win both times. Torque, we played really well, and last year with Sergio winning and how Abe and Chacarra played, we got it done again. It's just an amazing feeling to be on that podium in front of the Spanish crowd. Hopefully we can do the three-peat.

Q. Sergio, you mentioned talking to Luke; have you had the opportunity to maybe talk to him about David and the way he's playing and how he could potentially help the team maybe now or in the future?

SERGIO GARCIA: Well, David played with him last week in Munich, so I think that Luke got a first-row seat to see what David is capable of, and I'm sure -- I don't like to speak for other people, but I'm sure that David is on his radar. I don't have a doubt.

I think, at the end of the day, there's still two, two and a half months to go, and the only thing that David and the only thing that I would advise him to do is to keep playing well, keep doing what he's doing, keep believing in himself, and then whatever must happen will happen.

There's only so many things we can control. I think we're in a similar boat, I guess. The only thing we can do is just do our best and then see what happens.