The 2023 Ryder Cup was the first to not involve Sergio Garcia in either a playing or vice-captaincy capacity since 1997, with the Spaniard resigning his membership with the DP World Tour earlier that year.
Sergio Garcia has already cemented his name in Ryder Cup folklore, with the 2017 Masters champion winning more points than any other player in the history of the competition. In fact, he was one of only two Europeans to win more than 1.5 points as recently as the 2021 event at Whistling Straits, with Garcia clinching three points on that occasion.
But of course, Garcia was one of the European legends who decided to make the move to LIV Golf back in 2022. And when he resigned his membership from the DP World Tour the following year, Garcia made himself ineligible to be a part of Luke Donald‘s team in Rome.
Europe would be able to win without Garcia at Marco Simone. But Donald is now preparing his team for the demands of an away Ryder Cup, with Bethpage in 2025 emerging on the horizon.
Luke Donald opens up on conversations he has had with Sergio Garcia
He has already received a significant boost with the likes of Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm making sure that they are still members for the time-being. But as things stand, Garcia will not be available to Donald due to his membership status.
Garcia has continued to shine on LIV this past year, finishing third in the individual standings. He also won LIV Golf Andalucia in a play-off with Anirban Lahiri. So it would be a boost for Donald if he at least had the option to pick the 44-year-old next year.
And speaking in a press conference ahead of the event, Donald has suggested that Garcia is open to the idea of putting himself in contention.
“Yeah, we chatted on the phone a couple of weeks ago. He’s certainly very interested in doing that [regaining his membership]. He understands everything that’s involved and that the decision has to go to him whether he’s prepared to do all that. But certainly, we’ve had that discussion, yes,” he said.
An ace up the captain’s sleeve
Some may have a few concerns about Garcia given that his game has been inconsistent at times. But he really appears to have put himself in a good place over the last few years. He also finished second on three occasions on LIV this past season.
And he is undoubtedly one of those players who can throw the form book out the window when he arrives at a Ryder Cup. The event has often brought the best out of Garcia, as Donald knows all too well. The pair played together in the 2004, 2006 and 2012 matches, with the duo winning Europe’s crucial fifth point ahead of the famous comeback at Medinah 12 years ago.
Europe have some outstanding options coming through right now, but if Donald is looking for someone to bring some experience to the team – particularly when it comes to playing in an away Ryder Cup – Garcia may simply tick too many boxes for the Englishman to ignore.
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