Former Ryder Cup captain left ‘surprised’ by what LIV Golf player has done ahead of Bethpage Black in 2025

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While Brooks Koepka was the only LIV Golf star present at the 2023 Ryder Cup, it appears that there is set to be much more of a presence from the breakaway league at 2025’s event at Bethpage Black.

Zach Johnson caused some controversy by picking Brooks Koepka for Marco Simone. However, it would now be a big shock if Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald did not both pick at least one LIV Golf player for the next Ryder Cup.

Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will almost certainly be on their respective sides. DeChambeau won his second US Open this season, while Rahm is one of the best players on the planet. And Hatton has had an outstanding 2024. It would be foolish for Donald to not pick the pair given that winning an away Ryder Cup has become the hardest challenge in elite golf.

And perhaps the pair may not be the only LIV stars lining up in the blue and gold in New York.

LIV Golf star has ‘surprised’ former Ryder Cup captain ahead of Bethpage

Sergio Garcia was one of those who decided to jump ship to LIV in 2022. And he took himself out of contention for the 2023 Ryder Cup shortly after, by resigning his membership from the DP World Tour.

Like Hatton, Garcia had a superb year on LIV – winning at Valderrama. Donald has confirmed that he has spoken to Garcia about becoming a member again. And Garcia has indeed made himself available to his former teammate.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, three-time European captain Bernard Gallacher admitted that he was not expecting Garcia to return to the fold.

“I was surprised to be honest. He was adamant he wouldn’t pay these fines, but then again it is a great example of someone being passionate about the Ryder Cup. He wants to play, he wants to make a record amount of appearances and points, and he might be scared that won’t happen if he doesn’t pay,” he said.

“There is no guarantee he will get in, but he has a good chance of being picked because Luke Donald has cleverly made for these guys to get in by having six picks. It is great, it is a fine example of what the Ryder Cup means to European players.”

How Sergio Garcia became a Ryder Cup legend

Garcia is not only Europe’s all-time leading points scorer, but also the record points scorer in Ryder Cup history, having taken top spot during the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National.

He also reminded everyone of how good he can be on away soil as recently as 2021, with Garcia and Rahm winning all three of their matches together as Europe suffered a record defeat at Whistling Straits.

He is not the player he was at the peak of his powers, but the 44-year-old’s experience could still make him extremely valuable in the cauldron that is going to be Bethpage.

There has been just one Ryder Cup appearance where Garcia has failed to win at least two points, while he took 9.5 points across the 2004 and 2006 events.

So, while it remains to be seen how Garcia fares on LIV in 2025, it would make a lot of sense if Donald gave him every chance to earn a captain’s pick at a time when Europe have so many exciting youngsters knocking on the door.