This Ryder Cup rule could squash Sergio Garcia’s captaincy dreams

Sergio Garcia was always destined to be a Ryder Cup captain.

But the Spanish star’s decision to join LIV Golf in 2022 and renounce his DP World Tour membership in 2023 will likely prevent him — as well as fellow Europeans Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood — from having any leadership roles for the European team.

According to a report from the Telegraph‘s James Corrigan, the DP World Tour passed a rule in 2018 that “players cannot be a European Ryder Cup Captain or Vice Captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfill their minimum event obligation in any season.”

Garcia has paid over 1 million euros in fines and rejoined the DP World Tour in an effort to be eligible for the European team for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black; Westwood and Poulter have not done so.

European captain Luke Donald has previously suggested that Garcia could be a vice captain this fall. But the European skipper changed his tune at the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi last week.

“The rules will have to change if Sergio is to be an assistant,” Donald said, per the Telegraph. “So I haven’t thought much about it, because that scenario is not currently allowed.”

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The DP World Tour could axe the rule depending on how and if the golf world eventually comes together. But it’s unlikely that will happen in time for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Garcia, who is 44, is Europe’s all-time Ryder Cup points leader and has been a stalwart for two decades. According to Data Golf, he was the 22nd-best golfer in the world in 2024 when LIV’s season ended, ranking him alongside Wyndham Clark and Tom Kim. Data Golf also ranked Garcia as the eighth-best European golfer, right behind Shane Lowry. In 2024, Garcia won the LIV event in Spain and finished runner-up in three other LIV starts. He is ranked No. 441 in the world, according to the OWGR.

The European team could use Garcia this fall at Bethpage Black, where he finished fourth at the 2002 U.S. Open.

A Category 1 DP World Tour member, Garcia is eligible to play in any DP event he wants once his suspension is lifted.

But Garcia’s dreams of playing in his 11th Ryder Cup will hinge on his ability to earn one of Donald’s six captain’s picks.

Due to the suspension and LIV’s 14-week schedule, Garcia won’t have enough opportunities to qualify for the team on points. He is qualified to play in the Masters as a former champion but isn’t a lock to be in the field at the other three majors. The PGA of America did not give Garcia a special exemption last year; he will have to qualify for the U.S. Open and Open Championship.

Actions have consequences. And, at least for now, Garcia’s will cost him the chance to captain the blue and gold. But that, like everything in the upper echelon of pro golf, is subject to change.