The Ryder Cup points record holder will never be captain. Whatever happens, Sergio Garcia will not be able to lead the European team due to a rule introduced by the DP World Tour in 2018.
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It was the British daily The Telegraph that uncovered the "wolf". The wolf is a rule introduced in 2018 which states this: "A European player may not be designated captain or vice-captain if he declines his DP World Tour membership or if he does not play the number of tournaments required to retain this card for a season, whatever it may be."
Sergio Garcia, news
And this is the case for the player who has a record total of 28.5 points in 49 Ryder Cup matches.
In the midst of the circuit war, Sergio Garcia, who left for the LIV, returned his membership card in 2023, after several episodes of conflict with the DP World Tour and in particular the refusal of him and a few other 'deserters' to pay fines to be able to play on the Old Continent circuit (Garcia, but also Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are in this case).
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The Spaniard did what was necessary to become a member again in 2025. But his approach does not allow him to dream of the Ryder Cup in Bethpage (and the following ones) only as a player.
This is a hard blow for the winner of the 2017 Masters who has never hidden his attachment and passion for the Ryder Cup and who, as the points record holder and former talisman of "Team Europe", could legitimately claim the position of captain. But his choice to leave for the LIV and even more his attitude towards the DP World Tour have earned him a ban. Until he decided to backtrack at the end of last year by paying the required fines.
Sergio Garcia can therefore still hope to qualify for the 2025 Ryder Cup or obtain an invitation from captain Luke Donald, with whom he has a good relationship, to play again in the biennial event as a player. On condition of course that he performs well during the qualification period. But for the captaincy, it is definitely over
