[PHOTO: Michael Reaves]
Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup career might not be over after all. At least, that’s what he hopes. Or, rather, had hoped.
The Spanish star, who is the all-time leading points earner in the match’s history, was unable to compete in the 2023 event in Rome after resigning his DP World Tour membership to join LIV Golf. Garcia reportedly tried to become eligible again late in the process last year by paying fines he owed the tour, but his lack of membership still made him ineligible.
Garcia intended to rectify that for the next Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in 2025, however, by altering his schedule in 2024.
“I am going to be a member again of the [DP World] Tour,” Garcia told the Rick Shiels Golf Show in an episode of the podcast that was published earlier this week.
Apparently, that’s not the case. At least, not yet.
Garcia paid back the fines totalling £700,000, but according to the DP World Tour, he missed the November 19, 2023, deadline to apply for 2024 membership. So why did he say that on the podcast that was just released this week? Well, it turns out the clip that’s getting play was actually recorded last November.
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“I always said that I wanted to, when I joined LIV, keep being a member of the DP World Tour and play my minimum four events and keep my card,” Garcia said at the time. “Obviously they didn’t make it too easy to be able to do that, but one of the reasons why I joined LIV is to play less so I can spend more time with my family.”
Previously, playing on both tours seemed impossible while LIV was in legal battles with both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. No LIV players competed for Europe at Marco Simone, and Henrik Stenson was even stripped of his captaincy. Luke Donald took his place and Europe cruised to another home victory.
The framework agreement between the three entities in June 2023 appeared to change things enough for Garcia to say he wanted to attempt this double-dip. But again, he did not (re-)apply for membership, according to the DP World Tour, so he remains ineligible.
LIV star Brooks Koepka played for the United States in Rome, but under different circumstances. The American side of the Ryder Cup is run by the PGA of America and not the PGA Tour, and PGA Tour membership was not a requirement for making the American Ryder Cup team.
“I wanna give myself the best possibility [of playing the Ryder Cup],” Garcia added on the podcast.
“Only playing a handful events, it is not easy to make it unless you do super, super well. But I guess at the end of the day if I am eligible, they see I am making the effort and I do well with LIV and I am consistent then at least hopefully I can be considered, not only because of my game but what I can bring to the team, and my history in the event.”
Indeed, Garcia would probably be eyeing a captain’s pick if he didn’t play enough DP World Tour events to qualify for the 2025 team. But a captain’s pick requires… wait for it… being a DP World Tour member.
Or at least right now it does. With Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton jumping to LIV Golf this year, whether they will be able to maintain their DP World Tour membership is unclear. And if they lose their membership, the question of whether the rules should be changed to allow them a way to be eligible to compete at Bethpage anyway – as Rory McIlroy has already hinted – might get louder.
[h/t The Daily Mirror]
