Why Sergio Garcia will never be captain

The Ryder Cup points record holder will never be captain. Whatever happens, Sergio Garcia will not be able to drive the European team due to a regulation point introduced by the DP World Tour in 2018.

This is the British daily The Telegraph who unearthed the “wolf”. The wolf is a point of regulation introduced in 2018 which indicates this: “ A European player cannot 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 during a season, whatever it may be.. »

But this is the case of the one who has a record total of 28.5 points in 49 games of Ryder Cup.

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 some other ‘deserters’ to pay fines in order to be able to play on the Old Continent circuit (Garcia, but also Lee Westwood et Ian Poulter are in this case).

The Spaniard has done what is necessary to become a member again in 2025. But his approach only allows him to dream of the Bethpage Ryder Cup (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 his passion for the Ryder Cup and who, as a points record holder and former talisman of “Team Europe”, could legitimately claim the position of captain. But his choice to go to the LIV and even more so his attitude towards the DP World Tour earned him ostracism. 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 the captain Luke Donaldwith whom he maintains good relations, to replay in the biennial event as a player. Provided of course that you perform well during the qualification period. But for the captaincy, it’s definitely threadbare…