Ryder Cup: Sergio Garcia can nonetheless be a European power if eligible

NEW YORK — Sergio Garcia nonetheless has the expertise to serve Europe nicely at subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

In spite of everything, he simply wrapped up his third LIV Golf season, ending third within the standings, falling behind solely Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann. Sure, Garcia turned in a greater LIV season than Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith. The Spaniard received at Valderrama in July and posted a trio of runner-up finishes this season.

“It’s nice, however greater than something, simply to complete as excessive as potential, it’s nice, towards all these guys which might be so good,” Garcia mentioned after his end at LIV Golf Chicago.

He additionally performed nicely on the U.S. Open, tying for twelfth at Pinehurst No. 2 after entering into the sphere as a primary alternate. Garcia posted rounds of 69-71-71-70 to complete at 1-over for the championship, seven strokes behind DeChambeau.

DataGolf at present lists Garcia because the Twenty second-ranked participant on this planet, forward of Koepka and different notable stars akin to Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, and Sahith Theegala. However for the reason that Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) doesn’t award factors to gamers competing in LIV occasions, Garcia’s OWGR rating has plummeted to 390th on this planet. Subsequently, he didn’t earn invitations to the PGA Championship and The Open, thus enjoying in solely The Masters and the U.S. Open. He missed the reduce at Augusta Nationwide by a shot, attributing that near-miss to “very troublesome” wind circumstances.

Garcia can also be the winningest Ryder Cup participant of all time, incomes 28.5 factors throughout his 10 appearances. He final performed for the European Ryder Cup crew in 2021, when he and Rahm have been the lone brilliant spots that yr for his or her crew. Garcia earned three factors that week, posting a 3-1 report regardless of his facet shedding by a historic margin, 19-to-9.

However after becoming a member of LIV Golf, he rescinded his DP World Tour membership in 2022. He consequently couldn’t don the blue and gold in Rome in 2023, because the Europeans went on to win with out him.

“The DP World Tour’s insurance policies have been very constant. There’s been numerous readability round that. It’s actually the identical because it was in Rome,” Captain Luke Donald mentioned on Tuesday.

Photograph by David Cannon/Getty Photographs

“You must be a member of The European Tour and born in Europe. For those who fulfill the rules and the foundations that the DP World Tour set, then you definitely’re eligible. There’s a bunch of LIV guys that play on LIV who’re eligible now in order that I can decide them at will.”

Rahm and Hatton, who joined LIV Golf over the previous 12 months, retained their DP World Tour membership. That explains why they’ve performed on the European circuit just lately, hoping to safe priceless Ryder Cup factors.

Garcia, in the meantime, shouldn’t be, however Donald supplied a promising growth concerning the Spaniard’s Ryder Cup prospects in 2025.

“To start with, clearly, he resigned his membership a few years in the past. However now we have had some chats. He’s contemplating rejoining. He’d need to observe all the foundations and rules like everybody else, and if he does that, he shall be eligible to partake within the Ryder Cup,” Donald mentioned.

“We chatted on the telephone a few weeks in the past. You recognize, he’s definitely very fascinated by doing that. He understands every part concerned, and once more, the choice has to go to him, whether or not he’s ready to do all that.”

Donald confirmed to SB Nation that vice captains should even be DP World Tour members in good standing, ought to Garcia need to serve in that capability. Nevertheless it seems like he needs to play—and he has the sport to assist the Europeans. In spite of everything, the Europeans face a tall process in 2025: successful a Ryder Cup on American soil at Bethpage Black. Garcia, after all, helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in 2012, the final occasion wherein an away crew received the Cup. Contemplating his sturdy type from this previous season and his spectacular match-play report, Garcia may very well be a power to be reckoned with, at the same time as an elder statesman.

Nevertheless, based on a February report from The Telegraph, Garcia owes the DP World Tour $1 million in fines. If he pays these and clears the hurdles essential to get reinstated as a member, he’ll turn out to be Ryder Cup eligible.

Whether or not he’s motivated to take action stays to be seen. However he continues to like competing on LIV. He mentioned on the U.S. Open that his household, his love for the sport, and the problem that golf presents encourage him day by day, however he didn’t point out the Ryder Cup.

“I like what I do, which is enjoying golf. I’m a competitor. I attempt to do it the perfect I can,” Garcia mentioned at Pinehurst in June.

“Do I’ve to show something? No, after all not. Would I prefer to play higher and higher day by day? In fact, I might. Who wouldn’t? When it comes all the way down to proving issues, I don’t assume so. I feel I’ve performed nicely sufficient.”

Garcia has had a wonderful profession and season, one many followers and pundits have missed. Certainly, he has performed “nicely sufficient,” however he would additionally serve Europe nicely at Bethpage Black. His type could change all through the 2025 season, however proper now, Garcia is among the recreation’s prime gamers. So sure, he would nonetheless be a power the People wouldn’t need to face on Lengthy Island subsequent yr.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.