Luke Donald reveals latest on Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup return

Luke Donald has revealed he has been in talks with Sergio Garcia as the Spaniard plots an extraordinary return to the Ryder Cup.

Garcia – Europe’s highest all-time points scorer – resigned his DP World Tour membership last year to focus on LIV Golf, appearing to end of hopes of competing in blue and gold ever again.

The 44-year-old was ineligible for last year’s match at Marco Simone after handing in his card as he faced mounting fines and suspensions for playing on the breakaway LIV league.

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But after an impressive season that saw Garcia finish third in the LIV season standings, he now wants to return to his old domain in a bid to revive his Ryder Cup career.

When asked what Garcia has to do to make the team at a “One Year to Go” press conference in New York, Donald replied: “First of all, he resigned his membership a couple weeks ago. We have had some chats. He’s considering re-joining. He’d have to follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else and if he does that then again, he will be eligible to partake in the Ryder Cup.”

Despite Garcia’s ambition, there are still several hurdles left to overcome before he can became available for selection for an 11th European team. He missed the deadline to reapply for his Wentworth HQ membership last year and, under current tour regulations, he would need to pay fines upwards of $1million to make the shock comeback.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are both currently eligible for the match having remained Tour members, but only pending appeal against the severity of their fines for playing LIV events without a release.

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Last year, a sports arbitration panel ruled in favour of the DP World Tour’s right to impose such sanctions on LIV players, setting a precedent that makes it unlikely for Hatton and Rahm to win their case.

“It really is the same as it was in Rome,” Donald said when asked about his policy on LIV players for the away duel. “You have to be a member of the European Tour and born in Europe, and if you fulfil the regulations and rules the DP World Tour set then you are eligible. There are a bunch of LIV guys that are eligible so I can pick them at will.”

Donald was then pressed on whether Garcia’s return to the DP World Tour is actually a serious option ahead of next year’s match at Bethpage Black.

“Yeah, we chatted on the phone a couple weeks ago,” he insisted. “He’s certainly very interested in doing that. He understands everything that’s involved and the decision has to go to him, whether he’s prepared to be able to do all that. Certainly, we’ve had that discussion, yes.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered 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.