October 8th 2024.
Sergio Garcia, one of Europe's most experienced golfers, is hoping to make a comeback to the Ryder Cup. In a recent revelation, his former teammate and current European captain, Luke Donald, shared that they have been in talks about Garcia's potential return. Garcia had resigned from the DP World Tour membership last year due to fines and suspensions he received for participating in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit. This decision rendered him ineligible for the Ryder Cup last year, where Europe reclaimed the trophy under Donald's captaincy.
However, after a successful year on the LIV circuit with a third-place finish in the end-of-season individual standings, Garcia is now eager to rejoin the biennial match play competition. Donald, who has partnered with Garcia in several Ryder Cups, confirmed that they have discussed the possibility of a "spectacular comeback" at Bethpage Black next year. Despite his previous resignation, Garcia will have to adhere to all rules and regulations like any other player in order to be eligible for selection.
Donald also revealed that he had spoken to Garcia on the phone a couple of weeks ago, and the Spaniard is interested in rejoining the DP World Tour. However, it won't be an easy task for Garcia to regain his membership and play enough events to make himself eligible for selection. He would first have to clear the substantial fines imposed on him for his LIV commitments. While Garcia could choose to appeal, there is no guarantee of success, and it would leave him with a hefty bill to pay.
Furthermore, LIV events do not count towards automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup, so Garcia would likely need a captain's pick from Donald to make it to the team for the eleventh time. Another factor that Donald would have to consider is Garcia's relationships with his fellow European players. While he maintains a strong friendship with Jon Rahm, his relationship with Rory McIlroy was damaged after disagreements when Garcia joined LIV. On the other hand, US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has stated that he would have no hesitation in selecting LIV golfers for the American team.
Despite the challenges, Garcia remains hopeful for a reunion with his fellow countryman and LIV Golf star, Jon Rahm, in the Ryder Cup next year. As for the rest, only time will tell how the situation unfolds and who will make it to the final team of 12 players.
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