Sergio Garcia was reportedly denied a last-gasp attempt to qualify for the Ryder Cup by the DP World Tour.
Garcia became ineligible for Team Europe selection when he resigned his membership in May after hefty fines were given to defecting LIV golfers.
But now the Telegraph has reported the Spaniard offered to pay the initial £100,000 fine plus an estimated total of more than £700,000 if he could qualify.
Despite allegedly offering to play in “whatever events we (the tour) wanted” as long as they didn’t clash with LIV, Garcia was rejected because of his membership resignation.
It’s reported the top Ryder Cup points-scorer of all time still hasn’t paid his £100,000 fine unlike his fellow European stalwarts Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.
In June, DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley stated two criteria were required to be a member of captain Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup side: “You have to be European and you have to be a DP World Tour member.”
May 1 was the deadline for membership re-applications for LIV players, but reinstatement would’ve meant having to pay outstanding fines.
A DP World Tour spokesperson has since provided this statement to NCG:
“We received an enquiry, but this entire discussion is a moot point. Even if Sergio Garcia was to pay everything he owes to the PGA European Tour, the simple fact is that he does not fulfil one of the essential, long-standing and widely known eligibility criteria for Team Europe: ie: he is not a member of the DP World Tour. He resigned his membership, of his own volition, in May, and is therefore not eligible to rejoin until next season.”
Garcia earned three points out of three when paired with Jon Rahm at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, and Rahm has previously said he will miss his compatriot’s presence.
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“I’m going to miss him. A Spanish duo in the Ryder Cup I think to me is embedded into the roots of the Ryder Cup,” he said at the Memorial Tournament.
“Look with Seve and Ollie were able to do throughout their partnership.
“It’s a little sad to me that politics have gotten in the way of such a beautiful event. Again, it’s the best Europeans against the best American, period.”
Garcia became the record scorer at the biennial match versus America in 2018 when he beat Rickie Fowler in the singles in France.
At LIV Golf DC at the end of May, Garcia said his former Ryder Cup partner Donald put it to him on the phone that he wouldn’t be part of his 2023 side.
“Luke obviously is a good friend – I wanted him to be sincere and tell me the truth, and he pretty much told me that I had no chance. Obviously, that made my decision a little bit easier,” he said.
“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, but it didn’t sound like it, so that’s what it is.”
FAQ:
How old is Sergio Garcia?
Garcia is 43 years old. He was born on January 9, 1980 in Spain.
Has Sergio Garcia won the Masters?
Garcia won the Masters in 2017. After a number of close calls in his career, he beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win his first major.
Where does Sergio Garcia live?
Garcia has a number of reported residencies, however, his main one is in Austin, Texas.
How much is Sergio Garcia worth?
After winning 36 times in his professional career, Garcia has a reported net worth of $70 million.
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Now read: Everything you need to know about the 2023 Ryder Cup!
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