Luke Donald welcomes “clarity” over exodus of Ryder Cup legends

Luke Donald says the exodus of stalwarts Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter has provided him with some clarity ahead of his Ryder Cup team selection.

Westwood, Garcia and Poulter, who have played in 28 Ryder Cups between them, are now all ineligible for the biennial contest against the USA after resigning their DP World Tour memberships.

The LIV Golf trio, who have enjoyed career-defining moments in blue-and-gold, handed in their tour cards last week, meaning their Ryder Cup careers are all but over.

• PGA of America chief blasts LIV Golf

• Former winners out of PGA Championship

They made the decision to quit the circuit amid threats of further punishment after a sports arbitration panel upheld the DP World Tour’s sanctions for playing in the opening LIV Golf event in Hemel Hempstead last summer.

Henrik Stenson, who was removed as European captain in July following his switch to the breakaway league, quickly followed suit and accepted his fate.

Stenson’s replacement Donald admits the outcome is a “shame”, but is not disappointed as the resignations at least provide some clarity as he looks to fresh blood for September’s match in Rome.

“Some of this happening five months out is probably better than five weeks out, it gives me a bit of clarity,” he said in his pre-tournament PGA Championship press conference.

“I haven’t seen the LIV guys as much, it’s harder to keep the relationship going. I am not disappointed, they had a choice to make.”

The complete exile of Ryder Cup stars Westwood, Garcia and Poulter has raised the question over whether the entertainment value of the showdown has been diminished without the trio’s future involvement.

But Donald, gearing up for his 15th PGA Championship appearance this week, was not drawn on the knock-on effect of such high-profile absences from the event.

• PGA of America chief blasts LIV Golf

• Former winners out of PGA Championship

When asked if the Ryder Cup spectacle had been harmed, Donald said: “I understand the public’s view. A couple years ago if you’d asked me that none of these guys would play a further role in the Ryder Cup, I would have questioned why.

“But again, these things have all happened in a series of events that ultimately, I guess, were their decisions.

“I think we all knew when LIV came about and it was approached to a lot of us that if you did that, there were these opportunities, there were these chances that stuff like this could happen, and you could put your potential future in jeopardy. I think everyone knew that.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.