Ryder Cup’s record point-scorer Sergio Garcia in line for shock return under Luke Donald but only if he pays £1.5MILLION
THE RYDER CUP’S record points scorer could make a shock comeback to the event.
But he will only be eligible for selection if he pays a whopping £1.5million fine.
The 2023 edition was thrown into chaos when the European Tour removed Henrik Stenson as Europe’s captain after he joined the controversial LIV Golf tour.
That also ruled out a number of Ryder Cup stars who also defected to the Saudi-backed breakaway group – including Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
But now European captain Luke Donald – who opted to stay on for next year’s tournament at Bethpage Black after leading his side to a resounding win in Rome last year – has opened the door to a return for Garcia.
Garcia resigned his DP World Tour membership in May 2023, disqualifying him from competing at Marco Simone.
The 2017 Masters winner has now racked up £1.5m in unpaid fines for joining LIV.
But Donald confirmed he has held talks with the Spaniard about regaining his DP World Tour card and being available for New York 2025.
The Englishman said: “Obviously he resigned his membership but we have had some chats.
“He is considering rejoining. He’d have to follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else, and if he does that, he will be eligible to partake in the Ryder Cup.
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“We chatted on the phone a couple of weeks ago. He’s certainly very interested in doing that.
“He understands everything that’s involved and the decision has to go to him, whether he’s prepared to do all that. But certainly we’ve had that discussion, yes.”
Garcia has played in a whopping ten Ryder Cups, winning six and making his debut as a rookie in 1999 as the tournament’s youngest-ever player aged 19 years and 258 days old.
From his 45 matches played, he has 25 wins and seven ties with 13 defeats to total 28½ points.
And he could look to add to his personal tally at the next battle with the USA.
Garcia, though, is not the only LIV rebel who could represent Europe next autumn.
Rome heroes Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm both joined LIV Golf following the last Ryder Cup – with Rahm pipping Joaquin Niemann, Garcia and Hatton to the top of the 2024 individual points list this year.
But the pair still have DP World Tour memberships and could be selected if they are successful in an appeal over unpaid fines.
However, DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings suggested that process may not be concluded until after the Ryder Cup.
On the US team, Brooks Koepka will likely be joined by big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau for Keegan Bradley, who could become the first player-captain in the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
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- This former beauty pageant contestant is now an actress and featured in Sharknado 5.
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