The latest qualification rules just dropped for the 2025 Ryder Cup. No, not for the American squad, but the European squad. With this new update, things may turn out to be a little concerning for the Spaniard Sergio García. Yes, the highest-scoring European player in the Ryder Cup is at threat of missing out. Joining LIV Golf has called for the $1 million penalty for sure for the 2017 Masters winner, but the renewed rules issue a greater problem for Garcia, who could not pay up the penalty in due time.

“But it was explained that, despite the ongoing peace talks, as he had resigned his membership, he is not eligible to join until next year. It was all a bit bizarre, as that was made clear all along,” reported The Telegraph about Garcia last year. The Spaniard did offer his share of the penalty to the DP World Tour so that he could take part in the 2024 Ryder Cup. However, the request was rejected. Garcia resigned from DPWT in 2023, and to date, it stands that way. And hence, he could not continue to play or earn any points from the DP World Tour. That’s precisely where the problem begins.

NUCLR Golf shared on their X handle how this coming season of the Ryder Cup has an eligibility criterion like never before. They noted, “Team Europe announces a new, streamlined qualification process for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Points can be earned in the following ways: — Majors — PGA TOUR events — DP World TOUR events.“ It deliberately means that no one can get eligibility through their OWGR position or the top 3 rankings from the Race to Dubai. And, as you have guessed already, no LIV golf points will be counted.

Through the DP World Tour, one can earn points. This has been described by the official Ryder Cup as, “In 2024, from the start of the qualifying campaign (August 29) through to the end of the calendar year, the only place to earn Ryder Cup points will be from events on the DP World Tour – ie: the Back 9, the DP World Tour Play-Offs and the Opening Swing events of the 2025 season.”

In March this year, the Spanish golfer disclosed his plans to rejoin the European Tour during an interview with Golf.com, stating, “I am going to be a member again of the European Tour. I always said that I wanted to, when I joined LIV, keep being a member of the DP World Tour. Obviously they didn’t make it too easy to be able to do that, [but] I want to give myself the best possibility of playing the Ryder Cup.”

Earlier this year, Guy Kinnings commented on the Ryder Cup qualification, and said, “If a player is European, and is a member of the DP World Tour, and abides by the rules as they currently are – so if you don’t get a release and you accept the sanctions – there is no reason why players who’ve taken LIV membership and maintained DP World Tour membership, could not a/ qualify and or b/ be available for [wildcard] selection.”

Since García will not be able to get any points from PGA Tour or DPWT events for obvious reasons, he is likely to be in trouble. But is it absolutely not possible for the Spanish golfer to play for Europe in the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage?

Are there any hopes left for Sergio Garcia?

There is no way García can play this year to earn points. A strand of hope remains in the hands of Sergio Garcia, however. If the Spanish golfer pays his penalty on time this year and earns enough points before the deadline of the 2025 Ryder Cup, he will be allowed to represent Europe once again. In his career, he played in ten, yes ten Ryder Cups, and has earned 28.5 points over his 10 Ryder Cup participations and is considered the highest-scoring European player in the history of the Ryder Cup.

Garcia’s fellow Spanish LIV golfer, Jon Rahm commented on the former’s stunning record, and said,  “I think it would be really stupid for anybody not to lean on Sergio Garcia’s experience in the Ryder Cup,” and we think that sands true, as per Garcia’s illustrious record.

There is yet another way Garcia can play, of course, after paying his fees, which is when he gets picked by the captain. That’s right. The Ryder Cup star once had such a situation back in 2018, when he was not considered to have a consistent play, yet he got picked by the captain of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Thomas Bjørn. Hence, fans can certainly put their hopes that the Spaniards achieve any of these two chances to play for Europe once again.

Do you think García can play in the 2025 Ryder Cup? Let us know in the comments below.