It is assumed that sooner or later someone will come and surpass the historic and absolute record of Sergio García in the Ryder Cup, the 28.5 points he achieved at Whistling Straits (2021) and that stand far and wide from the previous mark, those 25 by Nick Faldo. It is assumed, because we must understand that all records end up falling, that we always move forward… But it is not easy for it to happen. The active player who is closest, so to speak, is Rory McIlroy, who has 18 points. In the medium term, it could only be the Northern Irishman, certainly, because on the American side there is not even a remote threat to García’s record: Spieth’s 10.5 points, or the 8 by Koepka, Reed and Thomas, to name those who have added the most among those who could continue to do so, are light years away. And Dustin Johnson, who has 12 points? If we are honest and realistic, it is hard to imagine seeing him again, in a Ryder.
In the short term, the only one who could surpass Sergio’s 28.5 could only be Sergio himself. It’s obvious. But at this point a rather gloomy panorama opens up, let’s not kid ourselves. Sergio feels that he could still round off his career as a player in the Ryder with one or even two more participations. But his return is conditioned by the sanctions of the DP World Tour and at this point the matter is stuck. “This year I wanted to become a member of the European circuit and was willing to pay the fines, but then I would still have to serve a suspension and then you ask yourself: why am I going to pay the fine, which is a lot of money, if then maybe I still can’t play in a year”, explains the Spanish player in the hours before the start of a LIV Andalucía in which he starts as favourite (until proven otherwise, he is the King of Valderrama).
On that side, truth be told, there doesn’t seem to be a way out, unless the parties, player and DP World Tour, sat down to negotiate the issue of suspensions. Sergio does not rule out that his agent meets with the European circuit, but he does not seem very hopeful about the possibility (WATCH VIDEO). And the European circuit, for its part, does not seem willing, at first, to reconsider its severe position, with that double sanction route (economic and tournament suspension). Guy Kinnings, newly landed as CEO, has not pronounced on the matter (in reality, he has not pronounced publicly on almost anything), although nothing indicates that he is going to modify the executive line of the previous leader, Keith Pelley.
Right now, therefore, only one way is glimpsed, which is that the Saudi fund, on the one hand, and the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, on the other, reach that desired agreement that reshapes the great stage of world golf and also brings with it, as seems logical, a pardon for the players who are in the situation of the Spaniard.
Sergio has found new motivations in 2024 and certainly feels fully accomplished in LIV Golf. He has felt the pinch of the majors again, the call of the big dates, and does not hesitate to attend the necessary previews. But there is a third leg that is limping, that of the Ryder, and it is a story that does not deserve such an abrupt ending.
