If you think Sergio Garcia is special on a golf course, you should see the 2017 Masters champion in the kitchen. “I enjoy cooking,” says Garcia, a Borriol, Spain, native who whips up an incredible-looking chicken paella. “I don’t do it as much anymore because we have an amazing chef that helps us do that. But I’ve always enjoyed cooking here and there. It’s been one of my favorite things to do.”
Though he’s largely swapped out the cast-iron skillets for TaylorMade clubs these days, Garcia is still sizzling. A member of LIV Golf League since 2022, Garcia had a tremendous 2024 season where he finished third in the individual standings and took home more than $17 million in prize money. The hot play has only continued in 2025, where he’s already won an individual title (LIV Golf Hong Kong) and his team, Fireballs GC, was victorious in three consecutive events between February 16 and March 16. Garcia hopes to keep cooking at LIV Golf Miami at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Trump National Doral Miami April 4 through 6.
When we caught up with Garcia between tournaments, he sprinkled nothing but good things about South Florida into the conversation. He also had plenty to share about his 2025 Masters preparation and his bucket-list Africa getaway. And, of course, we couldn’t let the self-proclaimed foodie get away without getting the dish on his favorite places to eat in his home city of Austin.
Your golf game has been incredible this year. What are a few things you can attribute to how well you’re playing?
There’s probably a couple of things. First of all, the work I put in has helped a lot — not only with the game, but mentally [too]. I love the team aspect of [the LIV Golf League]. I think it’s something that I really thrive on. It’s helped me relax a little bit more, even enjoy [golf] a bit more.
The work that we were able to put in during tournament weeks because of there being only 54 [LIV] players [is incredible]. It feels like you always have a spot on the putting green. It feels like you always have a spot on the range. You always have a spot on the on the chipping green. You can actually put in more work in less time. You can concentrate better because you don’t have to worry like, “Oh, man. Now this guy is here [practicing], and I don’t have a hole to go. Or do I need to move here? Do I need to move there?”
You finished second at last year’s LIV Golf Miami. What is it about the Trump Doral golf course that you love so much?
I’ve always enjoyed Miami. I had a place there for almost a decade, in Key Biscayne. It’s a really cool spot. A lot of Latinos live there, so as a Spaniard or as a as a Latino, you feel a little extra cheer there, which is always fun.
I really enjoy the Blue Monster [Trump Doral’s nickname]. Since the president or his company bought it, they’ve redone it. I think it became a little bit tougher. It became a little more challenging. Those are the kind of courses that I usually perform better at. All those things are definitely a plus. I’ve always enjoyed playing down there.
Tell me a few other cities on the LIV Golf League calendar that you enjoy going to every year.
Obviously, Spain is one of them. I love playing in my home country. Valderrama is my favorite golf course. That’s a week that I always look forward to on the LIV calendar.
I think Adelaide [in Australia] is great. It’s one of the best events we have all year. We play in so many amazing places around the world. To have the possibility of traveling and showing our beautiful game to so many different countries and so many different cultures is a treat. It’s something that we’re very blessed to be able to do. We just try to bring the best we have, make sure that the people enjoy it and, hopefully, get more and more people involved into the game.
Obviously, the U.S. market is very important, but making sure that everyone around the world gets to see us and gets to enjoy the game is very important.
How do you think things are going in the U.S., in terms of LIV’s growth?
It’s definitely getting better and better every year. We would love to for it to be better and go faster, but I think that we’re seeing some very positive feedback. We’re seeing some very positive moves from not only fans, but [from] sponsors being more and more interested in our league, our teams and our players. That’s something that excites us a lot because it not only helps us grow our league and our teams, but also the game. At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing — to make sure that the game keeps growing and keeps getting better and better.
This year’s Masters will be 100th Major you’ve competed in. As someone who’s won the tournament before, what are your emotions like leading up to the big event?
A little bit of everything. I think there’s always excitement about getting into Augusta. It’s the first major of the year. And being a past champion there, it makes it extra special. At the same time, you’re also a little anxious and a little nervous because you want to go there and perform the best way possible, and sometimes it doesn’t happen. But you go with the best mental approach possible.
I think the most important thing is to go there and enjoy the weekends as much as you can. Let your game flourish, show what you can do and see what happens. We’re very excited. There are a lot of great things that happen that week not only personally, but also for families. We can’t wait to get there and enjoy every bit of it.
Beyond golf, I know you have a lot of other things going on. Speak on some of the philanthropic efforts that you’re a part of.
Charitable work is super important. We’ve had our [Sergio & Angela Garcia] Foundation since 2002. We started doing our Fore Kids ATX event here in Austin, raising around $7 million in three years for kids and the community. It’s something that my wife and I work really hard at and we’re super proud of. I’ve always said we’re very blessed, very thankful for the kind of lives that we’re able to have and the health that we’re able to have for ourselves and our kids. What better way to give back than to help those people that might need it? We’re excited about this year’s [gala] event on November 6 and 7. Hopefully, we’ll keep collecting as much money as possible and keep helping families and kids that need it and deserve it.
Austin has a great food scene. If I were there today, where would we go for lunch and dinner?
Austin has a lot of great things [about it], but that’s one of my most favorite — it has so many great restaurants. The food is amazing here. And me being Spanish, we love our food. Obviously, it’s something that really touches my heart.
I really like sushi, so Uchi or Uchiko, [chef] Tyson Cole’s restaurants [are good options]. They’re not only my favorites, but my wife’s, too. You have Red Ash, which is great Italian. Obviously, you have great barbecue. You also have Jeffrey’s. There are so many places that you can go and have an amazing meal here in Austin. It’s really a treat to be able to live here and enjoy every bit of it.
When the golf season ends, will you and the family take any trips?
When you travel as much as we do, a lot of time is downtime. Also, when my season finishes, it’s school time for the kids. But we do enjoy going back to Spain and seeing my family here and there. We try to organize a little trip here and there, either my wife and I or with the kids. Maybe we’ll get to go to some of our favorite places or maybe some new places. We always try to learn new things.
Anywhere specific in mind?
We had a couple of things that we had lined up. It’s going to be my wife’s 40th birthday, so we had some plans to go to Africa, which we love. Schedule wise, it’s a little tricky, but we’re trying to see if we can make it work and go there. We love South Africa. Hopefully, we’ll get to go.
