Luke Donald hasn’t forgotten about Sergio García and isn’t giving up on the possibility of having him on the team for the Ryder Cup 2025, which will be held at the Bethpage course in New York. The Englishman made this clear in the press conference he held this afternoon alongside Keegan Bradley, a year before the competition begins.
Donald revealed that he has spoken with Sergio recently and that the golfer from Castellón is considering the option of becoming a member of the DP World Tour again, making him eligible for the Ryder Cup. It should be remembered that García gave up his membership to avoid the European Tour continuing to fine him every time he broke the rules by playing a LIV Golf tournament in the same week as a DP World event. For this reason, he couldn’t even be considered for the Ryder in Italy in 2023.
Now, it seems everything could change. “We’ve had some conversations. He’s considering the possibility of rejoining. He would have to comply with all the rules and regulations like everyone else, and if he does, he will be eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup,” Donald explained.
Both Sergio García and his team have held various discussions with European Tour officials in recent days to explore the possibility of becoming a member again. The first thing he would need to do is pay the outstanding fines, which amount to over a million euros, a penalty Sergio has never agreed with, despite assurances from various quarters that LIV Golf would cover these fines. After paying these fines, it would need to be seen if the European Tour also sanctions him with a number of tournament suspensions, as has happened before in cases like Dean Burmester or Joaquín Niemann.
Once these matters are resolved, if Sergio becomes a member and the fines continue, he could opt for the Rahm and Hatton route, that is, file an appeal to buy time while awaiting a final resolution and, in the meantime, play circuit tournaments and stay on the radar of Luke Donald and his team. This time could be used for all parties negotiating the future of world golf to reach an agreement and, who knows, end the fines and suspensions.
Regarding Sergio, Donald keeps him in sight. He considers him for Bethpage. He could say it louder, but not clearer. “Yes, we talked on the phone a couple of weeks ago. He’s certainly very interested in doing it. He understands everything it entails, and the decision has to come from him, if he’s ready to do all that. Certainly, we’ve had that conversation, yes,” he assures.
In this regard, Donald keeps the doors of his team wide open for LIV Golf players. “It’s really the same as in Rome,” Donald said. “You have to be a member of the European Tour and have been born in Europe, and if you meet the rules and regulations set by the DP World Tour, then you are eligible. There are a lot of LIV guys who are eligible, so I can select them at will.”
