Sergio García has rejoined as a member of the DP World Tour after paying the fines he had pending with the circuit for participating in LIV Golf tournaments without the necessary authorization as outlined in the regulations. As a result, Sergio will be able to play in European Tour tournaments again and, most importantly, will be eligible for selection by Luke Donald to play in the next Ryder Cup at Bethpage, one of the main wishes of the Spanish golfer.
The news, reported by Ten Golf, has emerged in the last few hours. Sergio has taken the step and is once again a member of the DP World Tour. He will not be able to play tournaments immediately, as in addition to the financial penalty, there is a suspension of around ten tournaments. Thus, we will see Sergio back on the DP World Tour, but we will have to wait a few weeks.
“I am very happy to be able to do this. I have always said since I went to LIV that I considered the European Tour also as my Tour, as my home, and I wanted to play there. I am delighted to be able to help the DP World Tour by playing some tournaments and, of course, to have the possibility of playing the Ryder Cup, either by qualifying or being chosen by the captain,” explains the Borriol native to Ten Golf.
It should be remembered that Sergio García decided to withdraw from the European Tour in 2023 to avoid the fines that were being imposed on him for belonging to LIV Golf and playing tournaments in the Arab league during the same weeks as European Tour events, from increasing. Following that decision, he was left out of the Ryder Cup in Italy, as his name could not even be considered by Luke Donald and his team.
“The decision to do it now is obviously for the Ryder Cup, because I have always had a very special affection for the DP World Tour and because it seems that the atmosphere is easing. It feels like things are getting better, that we are starting to come closer together, and that also helps,” he assures.
Recently, Donald himself made statements making it clear that the doors of the Ryder Cup remained open for the Spanish golfer, although the first step was to pay the fines and rejoin as a member of the DP World Tour to be eligible. The first step has been taken. Now the ball is in Sergio’s court. If he plays well this year, he could qualify or, at least, be considered for selection.
“I spoke with Luke Donald a couple of weeks ago, and he told me he had been following me, that there were some things in my statistics that he really liked, and it is certainly good to know that you are on the radar. I haven’t spoken to him since I became a member, but the goal now is to play well, do everything we can to be in the Ryder. I don’t have to explain to anyone what the Ryder means to me. It would be very nice to be able to play at Bethpage and be there with Jon Rahm as well. I am very happy and eager to do things well, keep working hard, and give myself at least a chance to be at Bethpage,” he states.
What is not known is what will happen when he returns to play DP World Tour tournaments. It is not known if fines will continue to be imposed as before or if the European Tour will establish a more lenient regulation, considerably reducing or even eliminating the penalties. At this point, the DP World Tour will need to make a statement in the future.
