Sergio in the Ryder Cup? It's not off table
Spaniard discusses rejoining Euro tour with captain Donald; No U.S. role likely for Phil
Sergio Garcia interested in trading his LIV team uniform for a Euro team uniform? (Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf)
Although he still has fines to pay, Sergio Garcia apparently is willing to rejoin the DP World Tour in order to be eligible to play in the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The all-time points leader in the biennial competition — who resigned his European tour membership last year and was ineligible to be picked by captain Luke Donald for the team that turned out to be victorious in Rome — has spoken to the captain about the matter.
“We have had some chats, including on the phone a few weeks ago,” Donald said Monday during year-to-go media event in New York. “He’s considering rejoining. He’d have to follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else and if he does that he will be eligible to partake in the Ryder Cup.
“He’s certainly very interested in doing that. He understands everything that’s involved and again, the decision has to go to him whether he’s prepared to do all that. But certainly we’ve had that discussion.”
Garcia, 44, became the leading points earner in the event’s history in a losing cause for Europe in 2021. He has earned 28.5 points in 10 Ryder Cups, with Europe winning six of those events. After debuting in 1999, the only time Garcia missed the competition until last year was in 2010.
The fines Garcia accrued due to his participation in LIV Golf events starting in 2022 while still a member of the DP World Tour were believed to be more than $2 million. The tour won a U.K. arbitration case last year in which it was deemed that it was within its rights to impose sanctions for competing in conflicting events.
“He thinks he can play. He wants to play,” Donald said. “I don’t think he has talked to me about being an assistant captain, but again, he would have to rejoin the tour for him to be eligible.”
Garcia won his first LIV event earlier this year in Spain and finished third on the circuit’s season-long points list.
Jon Rahm recently appealed his fines, which allows him to compete indefinitely in DP World Tour events. He lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the Spanish Open, finished seventh last week at the Dunhill Links Championship and is scheduled to play next week’s Andalucía Masters, which would fulfill his four-tournament tour requirement for this year after also playing in the Olympics.
Rahm won twice this year with LIV Golf and captured the league’s individual title in his first season.
“It was great to see Jon do what he needed to do to remain eligible and to see him in Spain, and last week he played very well at the Dunhill. We’re in constant communication,” Donald said. “I’m talking to all the players, to him, to Tyrrell (Hatton). It was great to see Tyrrell win last week at the Dunhill.”
Luke Donald will lead again as a road captain vs. Keegan Bradley at Bethpage (Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
The European team made some changes to its Ryder Cup selection process, simplifying its points system into one list for determining the six automatic qualifiers instead of the former European and World points lists. Europe began its points race Sept. 1 with the British Masters.
“We made a few changes just because of the changing landscape in golf, and we wanted to create something that we thought would give us the strongest six, and then we have obviously six picks like we did last time to round out our team,” Donald said.
The U.S. team has been earning points at the major championships and the Players Championship in 2024, with the race for one of the six automatic spots to begin in earnest in January.
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley has been through an eventful three months since being chosen in July to helm the U.S. team, winning in August at the BMW Championship and clinching the winning point for the U.S. team at the Presidents Cup in September.
Despite all that, he said he’s not thinking about playing for the 2025 Ryder Cup team at this time.
“My life is consumed with golf, and sometimes when things happen in my life, I’m shocked,” he said of the recent whirlwind in his career. “You know, the past three months have been some of the craziest, most exciting, most nerve-wracking months of my entire life.
“But I have to pinch myself, a lot, and you know, this stretch of my life has been really incredible. It’s an honor of a lifetime for me to lead this U.S. team here at Bethpage Black. It was a dream to play in another Presidents Cup, another team event, and to win the point made it even more special.
“I made a promise to myself that I’m not going to worry about this until the time comes if I do. It’s really difficult to make the American team every year; you have to go out and really perform. Like I said, right now, my focus is on being a captain but I’m still a full-time player. I’m still playing in all the majors and all the big events next year. So I have a real shot at doing this. For now, I’m focusing on my guys and getting them ready to go.”
Asked about the influence of a rowdy home crowd for the U.S. team at Bethpage Black, Bradley said: “We know you go over to an away Ryder Cup, it’s going to be difficult. This is a big event. We’re all grownups and we know how tough it is to go play an away Ryder Cup. I have total faith in the fans of New York to cheer on their team, proudly and loudly. I don’t want them to cross the line, to do anything that would affect the course of play. But it’s going to be a tough atmosphere … we know we have to go out there and perform for the fans to be behind us.”
Bradley and the PGA Ryder Cup Committee announced the U.S. team selection criteria for the six automatic spots in the 2025 Ryder Cup. Points ranking does not guarantee qualification for the Ryder Cup. Players must separately meet all eligibility requirements.
2024 major championships and Players
1 Point per $1,000 earned for all players who made the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, British Open and Players Championship.
2025 PGA Tour events
1 point per $1,000 earned for all players who make the cut in events beginning January 1, 2025, through the conclusion of the BMW Championship, August 17, 2025. Opposite field PGA Tour events will not receive points.
2025 major championships
1.5 Points per $1,000 earned for all players who make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and British Open.
Bradley will have six captain’s picks which will be announced in following the 2025 Tour Championship.
Keegan Bradley hopes to infuse team with lessons learned from Phil Mickelson (Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Bradley ‘owes a lot’ to Phil, but not vice role
While LIV’s Sergio Garcia would like to get back into the Ryder Cup, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said he personally doesn’t think American Phil Mickelson “is interested in doing it” when it comes to having a role with the U.S. team.
“I owe a lot to Phil and he’s done so much for the American side in the Ryder Cup, but I’m not so sure he’s looking to come in as a vice captain,” Bradley said.