Europe as soon as had its Ryder Cup captaincy shored up for years. Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter had been locks to guide the blue and gold – till they joined LIV Golf and renounced their DP World Tour memberships in 2023.
The latter resolution will forestall the trio from, barring a rule change, ever having a management position on the European crew, based on The Telegraph.
The British newspaper reported on a DP World Tour rule launched in 2018 that claims, “gamers can’t be a European Ryder Cup Captain or Vice Captain if they refuse membership of the European Tour or fail to meet their minimal occasion obligation in any season.”
Garcia has reportedly reapplied for tour membership and paid his fines, which totaled greater than 1 million euros, in an effort to be eligible to compete on this yr’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. Westwood and Poulter haven’t elected to take action.
Donald, based on The Telegraph, was requested earlier this week if Garcia may play a task as an assistant, if he doesn’t make the crew as a participant. That’s when Donald introduced up the exclusionary rule.
“The principles should change if Sergio is to be an assistant,” Donald reportedly mentioned. “So I haven’t thought a lot about it, as a result of that situation is just not at present allowed.”
Garcia, 44, is Europe’s all-time factors earner and notably contended within the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage, the place he completed fourth. He’s anticipated to make his first DPWT begin since 2022 on the Bahrain Championship, Jan. 30-Feb. 2.
