sport news Classless Sergio Garcia enters golf's Saudi Hall of Shame alongside fellow ... trends now

When it comes to the Saudi rebels and whose reputation will be tarnished the most, I clearly made a terrible mistake a few weeks ago in believing it would be a straight contest between Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman.

I had forgotten about Sergio Garcia.

Given how much he had whined in Dubai at the start of the year about the established tours denying him the chance to make more money, when he's down to his last £100million in the bank, I must admit to feeling a tad embarrassed.

But, fair play to the temperamental Spaniard, he's come roaring back into contention in a style so spectacular as to render null and void any chance of forgetting him in future.

'I can't wait to leave this tour!' he screamed at a PGA Tour referee at the Wells Fargo Championship in Washington last week. 'Two more weeks and I'll be gone!'

You do feel sorry for Garcia, don't you? The purgatory he's had to put up with over the last 20 years in America, on his way to making $54m in prize money, plus a pension pot of at least twice that amount.

Bravo, Sergio. What a classless way to wave adios.

Say what you like about Lee Westwood's decision to team up with this dubious band of mercenaries, but at least he's doing so with a bit of dignity.

Over the next couple of days we should get an official release from the Saudi spokespeople as to the first confirmed names for the inaugural event at the Centurion Club in St Albans next month, and what a collection of poster boys it promises to be. Top of the list is Mickelson, of course. Will he return to the game and defend his US PGA Championship title at Southern Hills in Tulsa next week?

In a candid Five Clubs podcast, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh admitted he wasn't sure. 

'I think he's figuring out the right time to return, and the game is trying to figure it out, too,' said Waugh. 'Is he up to it, mentally and physically?' 

Bear in mind that the man

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