Sergio Garcia: Luke Donald told me there was ‘no chance’ of Ryder Cup spot

Sergio Garcia has revealed Luke Donald told him he had virtually no hope of making Europe’s Ryder Cup team before his resignation from the DP World Tour.

Garcia, Europe’s all-time Ryder Cup points scorer, spoke to captain Donald before making himself ineligible for September’s match against Team USA in Rome.

The Spaniard, along with fellow European stalwarts Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, accepted his fate amid mounting fines and suspensions from the DP World Tour following his defection to LIV Golf.

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And he knew his unlikely prospects of being selected as a wildcard to make his 11th Ryder Cup were all but over when he had an open and honest chat with Donald before handing in his tour card.

“I talked to him two or three weeks ago,” Garcia said before LIV Golf’s Washington DC event.

“I had to make some decisions when it comes down to the DP World Tour, and I wanted to see where I stood with regards to the Ryder Cup.

“Luke obviously is a good friend… but I wanted him to be sincere and tell me the truth and he pretty much told me that I had no chance. Obviously that made my decision a little bit easier.

“It was sad because I felt like, not only because of my history but the way I’ve been playing, that I probably could have a chance.

“But it didn’t sound like it, so that’s what it is. It sounded like my chance was slim to none.

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“I think we all make the decisions that we think is best for us. I made what I thought were the best decisions for me and my family and my game, and they’re making what they think are their best decisions.

“I was excited about the possibility of playing with Jon [Rahm] again, and I know that Jon was also excited about that possibility, too. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, at least for now.”

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.