Sergio Garcia & Co. Need to Spend Millions for a Ryder Cup Chance; LIV Pro Attacks Bizarre Rule Amid US Team Rumors

The Ryder Cup! One of golf’s most anticipated and prestigious events to ever take place. It’s no wonder then that many in the golfing world, be it European or American, want to take part in the same. Sergio Garcia is no different, going ahead to pay the fines levied against him by the DP World Tour for joining and teeing off in LIV Golf events. However, Ian Poulter doesn’t seem to agree with the practice, surprisingly enough!

“They really, they can fine them £100,000,” said the LIV Golf Pro as he alluded to the penalty that the European circuit imposes on golfers teeing off on one of the Saudi-backed league’s events. “It’s really simple. Like, there’s, there’s a lot. They haven’t told them that, though it’s mad, no, but they have, they have the right to fine them £100,000.” Garcia, on the other hand, readily settled the penalties all the while applying for the DP World Tour membership to become eligible to be part of the Ryder Cup.

Poulter didn’t stop there. He went ahead to point out the absurdity of it all, as per his opinion. “So if you roll out 14 fines of £100,000, that’s £1.4 million to have the privilege to pay to try and make a Ryder Cup team,” highlighted the Majesticks GC skipper. Interestingly enough, just paying the fines won’t make a golfer eligible but they will also have to tee off in at least four DP World Tour events in a year.

Coming back to the penalties, the 48-year-old mentioned how the PIF-funded circuit would pay Sergio Garcia the money for the policy this year as well as the next year, all thanks to the indemnity policy. But Ian Poulter himself seems to be against the idea of the breakaway league paying his fines for him so he can get just a chance to qualify for the team. “They will continue to pay 1.4 million next year for him to have the opportunity to play in the Ryder Cup,” said the LIV Golf Pro while referring to Sergio Garcia, “Personally, I don’t think I want my business partner to spend 2.4 million for me to play four events in Europe. How does that even comprehend?”

A valid question, to be frank. Dishing out millions of pounds just for a chance at the Ryder Cup would seem questionable to many. Even so, there are athletes including the likes of Sergio Garcia, who would rather pay the fines, or people like Jon Rahm, and Tyrrell Hatton, who would appeal the sanctions for a chance at the biennial event. But amidst all of this, while the European LIV golfer is required to pay fines, the American athletes seem to be the ones reportedly receiving the money during the prestigious tournament.

Sergio Garcia to pay fines, but American golfers to receive payment

$400,000! That is how much the American Ryder Cup players will be paid, as per reports, to tee off at the biennial tournament. What about the European golfers? Well, they wouldn’t be compensated for their play and they seem pretty happy with it. “I don’t care whether I get paid or not,” said Shane Lowry after the reports came about. “The Ryder Cup is a privilege, and it’s what I work for.”

He wasn’t alone in having those kind of thoughts. Even Rory McIlroy came forward to highlight the privilege of teeing off in the Ryder Cup. “I personally would pay for the privilege to play in the Ryder Cup”, said the Northern Irishman while alluding to the report of the American team getting paid for the same.

Regardless of getting paid or not, the golfers need to be selected for the Ryder Cup team to be part of the biennial tournament. For that to happen in the case of European LIV Golf Pros, they need to pay their fines or appeal against the sanctions while being a part of the DP World Tour. Quite a tough road they have ahead of themselves.