'He Told Me That I Had No Chance': Sergio Garcia Says European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald Ruled Out LIV Golfers for Team
POTOMAC FALLS, Va. — When Sergio Garcia gave up his membership to the DP World Tour earlier this month, he did so knowing that the 2023 European Ryder Cup team was not interested in his services.
On the eve of the LIV Golf Washington D.C. event, the 43-year-old Spaniard talked about a discussion he initiated recently with European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald about his Ryder Cup chances.
In that conversation Garcia learned that his probabilities of representing a side he has represented since 1999, with one exception in 2010, were zero.
“Obviously I had to make some decisions when it comes down to the DP World Tour, and I wanted to see where I stood in regard to the Ryder Cup,” Garcia said. “Luke obviously is a good friend, but he made it—I wanted him to be sincere and tell me the truth, and he pretty much told me that I had no chance.“
Having played in 10 Ryder Cups with an overall record of 25-13-7, it seems highly unusual that Garcia would not have been in line for a pick, especially since Donald’s team will be lacking experience.
At the PGA Championship last week at Oak Hill, Donald made it sound like because LIV Golf players like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Garcia resigned their membership on the DP World Tour, that was the reason they could not play on the Ryder Cup team.
"I said a couple weeks ago, it's a shame that there were some resignations," Donald said. “A lot of these guys have built their legacy around DP World Tour members and their participation and everything with the Ryder Cup."
Donald went further and said that their decision to resign their membership removes them from consideration.
But if they knew they were never going be considered due to their LIV status and that’s why they didn’t keep their membership, then is Donald telling the truth?
“Ultimately that was their decision, and unfortunately, they're off the table now for selection purposes for myself, Donald said. “As I said, I've always tried to concentrate on looking at all the players that week-in, week-out are committed to try and make that Ryder Cup, and that hasn't changed. My situation is what it is. I've got to always take what I have in front of me and kind of go forward."
It’s clear that if Garcia would have had a chance to make the team, he would still be a DP World Tour member, but his conversation with Donald ended any such dream.
“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,” Garcia said, “But it didn't sound like it, so that's what it is.”
On Monday, Garcia shot consecutive 66s in the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier in Dallas so he could play in his 24th consecutive U.S. Open.
It seems odd that Donald would not be at least curious in Garcia’s game and how he could be of value to the European Team.
“I think we were all thinking and hoping that they would be smart about it and still have options open, because at the end of the day, I'm still European,” Garcia. “I'm Spanish, and I want the European team to win and do the best they can there and have the best chance at winning the Ryder Cup, obviously.”
But even Garcia sees the issues that Europeans will have in September in Italy.
“I hope that Rory (McIlroy) recovers because I think the team is going to need him to be 120 percent if they want to have a chance of winning,” Garcia said. “Hopefully they'll all get there with the best chance possible and see what we can do.”