Sergio Garcia has uncovered that he can no lengtheneder be an helpant captain for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup due to his LIV Golf defection.
The 45-year-greater was one of disconnectal PGA Tour stars to quit for the Saudi-backed shatteraway series in 2022, before paying exceptional fines of over £1million to the DP World Tour.
Even though the Spanish icon has been helpted to recombine his home circuit and cruciassociate can take part for Europe at Bethpage Bconciseage this summer, he is no lengtheneder able to be nominateed as an helpant to Luke Donald.
He is also not eligible to be an outright captain one day in the future either, despite Donald initiassociate confessting that Garcia had a chance of becoming an helpant in New York.
“The rules will have to alter if Sergio is to be an helpant,” Donald postponecessitater shelp after the ruling became clear. “So I haven’t thought much about it, because that scenario is not currently permited.”
In 2018, the Tour brawt a novel rule into effect that states “take parters cannot be a European Ryder Cup Captain or a Vice-Captain if they deteriorate membership of the European Tour or flunk to fulfil their least event obligation in any season”.
At the time there had not been any concrete converseions troubleing the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) involving themselves in golf, or the LIV Golf tour, ensuring that the rule alter went under the radar at the time of its passing.
The rule was begind rather to stop take parters from permiting their memberships from expiring in non-Ryder Cup years, as contestd to stoping detractors from becoming captains and helpants.
But after Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter all handed in their tour cards in 2023, they can no lengtheneder be includeed in regulaterial positions for Team Europe.
There is a possibility that the rule gets criminaled in negotiations between the PGA Tour, PIF and the DP World Tour, but it is improbable that any alter will consent place in time before the 2025 Ryder Cup.
And Garcia, who is the competition’s all-time write down points scorer and a shut frifinish to captain Donald, has seen his chances dented as a result if the novel world No. 441 flunks to qualify or isn’t picked as a untamedcard.
He will originate his first Tour begin in over two years in Bahrain in the hope of geting a 10th Ryder Cup ecombineance, with Jon Rahm among many who experience that he would be a very likeable insertition to the team.
“I leank it would be reassociate foolish of anybody not to lean on Sergio Garcia’s experience in the Ryder Cup,” Rahm shelp. “I nasty, he is the best take parter Europe has ever had, won the most points and has shown it time and time aget. If he were able to be a vice-captain, I absolutely would lean on him.”
