The successful Sergio García-Ryder Cup couple can live their particular ‘Last Dance’ next year at Bethpage Black in New York. At least that is the intention of the golfer from Castellón, who has ‘made peace’ with the DP World Tour by paying the fines imposed at the time by the European circuit after his move to the millionaire Saudi LIV Golf.
Sergio, 44, has formally submitted a request to return to the DP World Tour in the 2025 season. According to a spokesperson for the European tour, the Spaniard submitted the aforementioned request before the scheduled deadline, which was November 17. There is no data on exactly how much money the winner of the 2017 Augusta Masters owed, but according to various sources it would exceed one million euros.
The Castellón native, along with other stars such as Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood, had resigned from the DP World Tour at the beginning of May 2023.
The circuit then recalled in a statement that the four had been “sanctioned for serious infractions in the regulations” related to their participation in the LIV Golf and García responded bluntly: “I sincerely want to play where they want me, on the European Tour I am not allowed to play.” I feel loved right now.”
For this reason, Sergio could not participate in the Ryder Cup in Rome that same year, in a tournament in which Europe recovered the trophy. It would have been his eleventh participation, tying with Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood, who have the European record with 11 – the American Phil Mickelson has the absolute record with 12 -.
With 28 and a half points, Sergio García is the player who has scored the most points in the history of the biannual competition that measures golfers from Europe and the United States. He is also still the youngest to debut when he competed in the 1999 Ryder at the Massachusetts Country Club at 19 years and 258 days old.
The challenge of convincing Luke Donald
Last month, Luke Donald, captain of the European Ryder team, said he had spoken to Garcia about his return. “He thinks he can play. I don’t think he’s talked to me about being an assistant captain, but he would have to go back to the Tour to be eligible.”
“He is very interested in doing it. He understands what it entails, and once again, the decision about whether he’s ready to do all of that rests with him. But, without a doubt, we have had that conversation,” he added in this regard.
García is still suspended but before Christmas he will have served all the punishment imposed at the time by the DP World Tour. Now he must earn a place on the Ryder team, something that is very difficult due to ranking but could be achieved by direct appointment of the captain.
Something that is not unreasonable because the Spaniard has finished third in the LIV Golf 2024 classification behind Jon Rahm and the Chilean Joaquín Niemann, with one victory and three second places.
