Sergio Garcia reveals tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz's talent for golf in amusing interview during LIV Golf Hong Kong

Sergio Garcia’s focus this week is on the defence of his LIV Golf Hong Kong crown at Fanling, but the Spaniard has revealed his liking for tennis and that he has a regular playing partner in the shape of seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz. The tennis superstar is a big fan of golf. Watch and stream the 2026 LIV Golf season live on TNT Sports.

Sergio Garcia has revealed that Carlos Alcaraz is making a rapid rise up the golf ladder.

Alcaraz is a seven-time Grand Slam champion, so is unlikely to be hanging up his tennis racquet any time soon, but it would appear he has other strings to his sporting bow.

Garcia is a compatriot of the Spaniard, and it seems they have a close bond as they play both tennis and golf together.

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Alcaraz is 22, and Garcia says he has been playing golf since he was a teenager.

"He is pretty good," Garcia said on TNT Sports. "He has been playing for four or five years. He is like an 11 [handicap], so he gets one shot a hole, something like that."

Garcia is a regular on the tennis courts, but needs a helping hand when taking on Alcaraz. 

"When we play tennis he has to play with his legs tied together," Garcia said. "Play with one arm."

While tennis is one of Garcia’s preferred sports, he also takes an interest in padel and says he is the top dog on the LIV Golf circuit.

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"Among the players I would say yes [I am the best at padel]," Garcia said. "Josele’s [Garcia's Fireballs GC team-mate Ballester] caddie is the best padel player we have here, but I play quite a bit. 

"I did not play for maybe five or six years when I moved to the US, but now it is starting to get big. I have to say I enjoy tennis more, and play more tennis than padel."

Happy memories of Fanling

Garcia arrived in Hong Kong as the defending champion, after his victory at Fanling in 2025.

The Spaniard says being the defending champion puts a spring in his step, but it counts for nothing once out on the course.

"The feel of being defending champion is always great as it means you have done well on a particular course," Garcia said. "It is always an honour to be defending champion, that is great.

"But it is always a brand new week. Just because you are the defending champion does not mean they give you a couple of extra shots. It does not work like that, unfortunately."

Fanling Golf Club is a track that suits Garcia's eye, and he has likened it to Valderrama - a venue he has had great success at.

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"It is special," Garcia said. "It is old style. It is not quite like Valderrama, but it is that type of course. It is strategic, smaller greens.

"It is not super long but you have to drive it well, you have to be precise with your irons. If you hit it on the wrong side of the greens, then you will have some tricky putts. 

"It is an old style and traditional style, of course, that I have always enjoyed. To me, this is the type of course that, although not very long, it makes you think. To me, that is what a golf course should be."

Garcia is in the latter stages of his career but has not lost his competitive edge.

"I still love the game," he said. "I love playing the game. When I am back at home with my friends, playing the small games.

"At 46, you still feel like you have to work harder than before. When you were younger, things were more natural and perhaps easier. The beautiful thing about golf is it always challenges you."

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Watch and stream the 2025/26 LIV Golf season live on TNT Sports.

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