Report: Sergio Garcia pays fines, now Ryder Cup eligible
Garcia has reportedly paid the outstanding fines that he owed the DP World Tour for joining LIV Golf, which makes him Ryder Cup eligible.
Sergio Garcia now has a chance to return to the Ryder Cup and represent Team Europe for a 12th time next year at Bethpage Black.
According to an exclusive report from Ben Parsons of Bunkered, Garcia has paid the outstanding fines that he owed the DP World Tour for his affiliation with LIV Golf. Those penalties reportedly totaled more than $1.2 million. Garcia will also serve a suspension before being eligible to compete on the DP World Tour again in 2025.
The winningest Ryder Cupper of all time has had discussions with European Captain Luke Donald about a potential return. Garcia also expressed confidence in his game—and his Ryder Cup future—in a recent interview with Golf Monthly.
“I’ve had talks with the European Tour, and I still want to support the European Tour, so hopefully, we all come to an agreement, and that can be restored,” Garcia said.
“I feel like my game’s still good enough to play at least two or three Ryder Cups, so if I can keep that level going. Hopefully, everything gets sorted, and we can get to that point.”
DataGolf currently has Garcia ranked as the 22nd-ranked player in the world. He won his first LIV Golf event this past July after turning in a strong performance at the U.S. Open in June. He carded rounds of 69-71-71-70 at Pinehurst No. 2 to finish in a T-12 at 1-over overall.
However, since joining LIV, Garcia has struggled to make it into major championship fields. He failed to qualify for last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.
He also could not play at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome because he resigned his DP World Tour membership.
“You have to be a member of The European Tour and born in Europe,” Donald re-inforced in New York in October.
“If you fulfill the regulations and the rules that the DP World Tour set, then you’re eligible. There’s a bunch of LIV guys that play on LIV who are eligible now so that I can pick them at will.”
But it sounds like Donald will be able to pick Garcia now that the penalties levied against the Spaniard have been resolved.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.