LIV Golf quarterfinals take a cheeky turn as team captains including Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia devise unexpected strategies

In a clever twist to the LIV Golf quarterfinals, team captains such as Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia got creative with their placement and assignment. The new format allows team captains to play either singles or in foursomes this year in Dallas for the team championship.

Garcia said in the past that playing singles can be lonely, but he's going to have players with him this time. He said via the LIV Golf website:

“I’ve always enjoyed having someone to put my arm around or his arm around me when we’re on the course. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve been successful in both foursomes and fourballs.”

The Spaniard ended as the third-best individual player this season behind Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann. Mickelson made the first major change, thanks to the format, by opting to send out Andy Ogletree and Cameron Tringale for the singles matches.

He said:

"Steely and I are really annoying to play against. I’m annoying, but when you put me and Steely, it goes to another level. I feel like that could be a challenge just dealing with that.”

Niemann, who took on Ogletree, said he had expected a twist from the legendary golfer:

“We thought Phil was going to play by himself, but we knew he could think about it and do something different like he just did.”

Garcia's lineup tweaks were done in an effort to sweep his opponent. His team defeated Henrik Stenson's team last year 2-1, and he was aiming to win all three this year.

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Sergio Garcia reveals his goal ahead of LIV Dallas

Sergio Garcia, like everyone else competing this weekend, wants to win the team event. This is a unique facet of LIV Golf, and it's something they all would like to add to their resume. For Garcia, it would be something special.

Sergio Garcia opened up on a team victory (Imagn)

He said via Mirror:

"A Team Championship with the Fireballs would be tremendously big."

He continued, struggling to predict where it would rank among his impressive achievements so far:

"It is difficult to know exactly where you would put it until you win it and really feel it. But it would definitely be up there with the Masters win and Ryder Cups. It is something I have always loved."

Sergio Garcia loves the team aspect of LIV, and to win with his teammates would be "amazing." On an individual note, the type of last season he had is something he always believed he was capable of. He said that he played "pretty well" the season before, adding:

"It shows the work I have put in not only physically, but mentally. So that has been very nice to see. I have felt good pysically for many years now so that obviously helps. Then it is just a matter of believing, being in the right frame of mind and getting things to go your way quite a bit."

Garcia's third-place finish at age 44 is impressive, and it shows the work he put in to continue playing well.