After months of chopping and changing his mind, Sergio Garcia has now pulled the plug on any hopes of playing in the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Garcia – the all-time leading points scorer in Ryder Cup history – had been given a Friday deadline to commit to playing in the Mallorca Open, knowing failure to register would result in his exile from competing in next year’s biennial tournament.
Per Team Europe’s Ryder Cup regulations, only DP World Tour members who tee up in a minimum of four events – including one in their homeland – are eligible for selection.
But despite the make or break ultimatum, it’s now been reported by El Pais that Garcia has failed to meet the deadline to register for the Mallorca Open – which takes place one week before LIV Golf’s season finale on October 20.
The decision means the Spaniard won’t be able to make Luke Donald’s team in Rome, regardless of whether LIV golfers are banned from the tournament or not.
The move concludes what has been a turbulent journey for Garcia filled with indecision over his Ryder Cup future.
Following his defection to LIV Golf, the 42-year-old announced plans to quit the DP World Tour during The Open at St Andrews, insisting he didn’t “feel loved” by the circuit.
The comments were then revoked two weeks later when Garcia committed to being a member of Keith Pelley’s European Tour, admitting the Ryder Cup was still “on his mind”.
But now, having already walked out of the BMW PGA Championship, Garcia has U-turned the U-turn and will not be able to compete at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone.
While all this may pale into insignificance anyway – it looks likely LIV golfers won’t be allowed to feature in the Ryder Cup – the decision still marks a sad, sour end for a player who has been a legend for Europe over the past two decades.
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