Ryder Cup 2023: Sergio Garcia tried to settle DP World Tour fine to regain eligibility, report says
Sergio Garcia tried to pay a £700,000 fine to the DP World Tour to regain eligibility for this year’s Ryder Cup, according to the Telegraph. The DP World Tour declined Garcia’s offer as the 2023 Ryder Cup is scheduled to begin on September 29 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.
“They also said they would play whatever events we wanted, apart from those against the remaining LIV tournaments,” the Telegraph’s source said. , despite the ongoing peace talks, as he had resigned his membership, he is not eligible to join until next year. It was a bit strange because that was made clear all along.”
To play for the European Ryder Cup team, one must be a member of the DP World Tour. In early May, Garcia was among four players, along with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Richard Bland, to resign their membership to avoid further fines for breaching the Tour’s controversial Championship Rule by play in LIV golf events.
Garcia said later this month at LIV Golf D.C. that captain Luke Donald made it clear he had “no chance” of being a member of the 2023 Ryder Cup team and that the conversation affected his retirement off.
Despite this, the 43-year-old saw some hope when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced on June 6 their exclusive agreement to keep commercial operations under a new for-profit entity. Part of the deal included free transfer for players between leagues starting after this season with more details to come.
Garcia’s absence in Rome could be notable; he is one of the greatest Ryder Cup players of all time. He extended his all-time points record to 28.5 points at Whistling Straits in 2021 with a dominant performance alongside then world No.1 Jon Rahm in the team portion of the tournament. The Spaniard became the all-time leader in most four-ball points won with 13.5 and joined Ian Woosnam and José María Olazábal for most four-ball points won with 10.5. He compiled a 25-13-7 record over 10 Ryder Cups.
