Garcia rejoins European Tour with Ryder Cup in mind
While America’s golfers are reportedly in line to be paid for playing in the Ryder Cup one of Europe’s veterans has just stumped up an estimated Stg 1million to be considered for their team.
That is the reported size of the fine Sergio Garcia has had to pay to rejoin the European World Tour as he seeks an 11th appearance at the biennial event.
The 44-year-old, who is already the Cup’s leading points scorer, wants to match Lee Westwood and Sir Nick Faldo’s European benchmark by playing next year at Bethpage in the United States.
In order to do that the Spaniard, who joined the breakaway LIV Golf in 2022, has had to settle the outstanding substantial fines imposed on him by the tour and he will also have to serve a suspension.
Garcia resigned his membership in May 2023 after an arbitration panel found in favour of the European Tour and ratified its right to fine and ban players who competed in LIV Golf events without permission.
It was then revealed Garcia was the only one of 17 players initially sanctioned not to have paid his fine, “nor has he given any indication that he intends to”.
But the drive to play in the Ryder Cup meant the 2017 Masters champion kept the channels of communication open and had a number of conversations with captain Luke Donald and has relented in his stance.
“Sergio Garcia submitted his application to return to membership of the DP World Tour for the 2025 season ahead of the deadline on Sunday November 17,” said a tour spokesman.
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