Luke Donald breaks silence on Sergio Garcia's Tour return as LIV Golf star plots Ryder Cup comeback
Sergio Garcia has returned to the DP World Tour in order to play his way back into the European Ryder Cup team in 2025, and captain Luke Donald has now had his say
Luke Donald has revealed Sergio Garcia has every chance of playing his way into contention to make the 2025 European Ryder Cup team, as long as the LIV Golf star continues to follow DP World Tour rules.
Last week it was first revealed by Bunkered that Garcia was one of a number of players from the LIV circuit who had applied for membership on the DP World Tour in 2025. It comes after Garcia joined the likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter in resigning from the circuit in 2023.
Any comeback to the Wentworth-based circuit centred around the Spaniard paying off fines he owed the DP World Tour, with the Fireballs captain's bill reportedly over £1 million.
His reapplication for membership however has seen Garcia pay off the sanctions he owed, thus allowing him to return to the circuit in the New Year. The Spaniard will have to serve a ban heading into the start of 2025, but from then on, will be able to compete on the DP World Tour and earn Ryder Cup points.
Prior to settling his fines, Garcia had already been in contact with Donald about a possible comeback, but remained ineligible due to not being on the DP World Tour membership list. Two months on Garcia is now back in the picture, and having one of Europe's most experienced Ryder Cup players at his disposal is something the captain has welcomed.
“The more people I have to choose from at Bethpage, the better," Donald told Mirror Sport. "But I’ve always said that any player has to follow all the rules and regulations of the DP World Tour like everyone else, and if Sergio does that then he can play his way into contention.
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"He’s now paid fines and taken up membership of the DP World Tour for 2025, so that’s an important step taken for him.” Donald was speaking ahead of the release of 'Una Famiglia', a behind-the-scenes documentary covering Europe's Ryder Cup victory over their American rivals in Italy last October.
The documentary - which is released on December 3 - provides fly-on-the-wall coverage of Europe's emphatic win, which saw them bounce back from a record-breaking defeat at Whistling Straits two years earlier. Half of the team that were defeated by the Americans in 2021 now play their golf on the LIV circuit, including Garcia.
His loyalties to the breakaway league and decision to walk away from the DP World Tour saw him miss the 2023 edition last Autumn, but his intentions in recent weeks have shown he is keen to make his comeback in European colours. Whether Garcia competes or not in 2025 though, there is no doubt the Europeans face an uphill task.
The away team have won just one of the last 10 Ryder Cups, that going the way of Europe, after the visitors secured their famous 'Miracle at Medinah' victory in 2012. Donald played his part in that win 12 years ago, and is motivated to replicate a similar result at Bethpage Black next September.
"Winning an away Ryder Cup is difficult and that motivates me," he added. "The fact that the players wanted me back was also a big factor. The US team remains extremely strong, and they will have a loud and passionate fan base behind them. The atmosphere will be tough for us. But we set a really a good blueprint to work from in Rome.”
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