NEW YORK — Sergio Garcia nonetheless has the expertise to serve Europe properly at subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
In any case, 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 attainable, it’s nice, in opposition to all these guys which are so good,” Garcia stated after his end at LIV Golf Chicago.
He additionally performed properly on the U.S. Open, tying for twelfth at Pinehurst No. 2 after moving 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 the moment lists Garcia because the Twenty second-ranked participant on this planet, forward of Koepka and different notable stars equivalent 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. Due to this fact, he didn’t earn invitations to the PGA Championship and The Open, thus taking part in in solely The Masters and the U.S. Open. He missed the minimize at Augusta Nationwide by a shot, attributing that near-miss to “very tough” wind situations.
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 workforce in 2021, when he and Rahm had been the lone vibrant spots that yr for his or her workforce. Garcia earned three factors that week, posting a 3-1 file regardless of his facet dropping 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However after becoming a member of LIV Golf, he rescinded his DP World Tour membership in 2022.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 loads of readability round that. It’s actually the identical because it was in Rome,” Captain Luke Donald stated on Tuesday.
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“It’s a must to be a member of The European Tour and born in Europe. When you fulfill the rules and the principles that the DP World Tour set, then you definately’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 helpful Ryder Cup factors.
Garcia, in the meantime, isn’t, however Donald offered 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 we’ve got had some chats. He’s contemplating rejoining. He’d need to comply with all the principles and rules like everybody else, and if he does that, he will probably be eligible to partake within the Ryder Cup,” Donald stated.
“We chatted on the cellphone a few weeks in the past. You already know, he’s definitely very excited about doing that. He understands all the pieces 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. However it seems like he needs to play—and he has the sport to assist the Europeans. In any case, the Europeans face a tall job in 2025: successful a Ryder Cup on American soil at Bethpage Black. Garcia, in fact, helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in 2012, the final occasion through which an away workforce received the Cup. Contemplating his robust type from this previous season and his spectacular match-play file, Garcia may very well be a power to be reckoned with, whilst an elder statesman.
Nonetheless, 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 into 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 stated on the U.S. Open that his household, his love for the sport, and the problem that golf presents encourage him each day, however he didn’t point out the Ryder Cup.
“I really like what I do, which is taking part in golf. I’m a competitor. I attempt to do it one of the best I can,” Garcia stated at Pinehurst in June.
“Do I’ve to show something? No, in fact not. Would I wish to play higher and higher day-after-day? After all, I’d. Who wouldn’t? When it comes all the way down to proving issues, I don’t suppose so. I feel I’ve finished properly sufficient.”
Garcia has had a fabulous profession and season, one many followers and pundits have missed. Certainly, he has finished “properly sufficient,” however he would additionally serve Europe properly at Bethpage Black. His type could change all through the 2025 season, however proper now, Garcia is without doubt one of the sport’s high 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 workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.