Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup journey has been anything but smooth. After resigning from the DP World Tour in 2023 amid the LIV Golf drama, it looked like his time on the European team was over. Fast forward to 2025, and suddenly, his name is back in the conversation.

A big reason for that? Luke Donald. Garcia recently revealed that the European captain reached out to him after his LIV Golf win in Hong Kong—a moment that, even for a Ryder Cup veteran like him, was unexpected. “He told me that it was great to see another European win out there,” Garcia revealed in a recent telephonic interview after clinching his second LIV Golf title in Hong Kong.

It’s no secret that Garcia and Donald share a strong bond, having played together in multiple Ryder Cups. But friendship alone won’t be enough to secure a spot on the European team heading to Bethpage Black this fall. Garcia has to prove he’s still got what it takes.

Just a few months ago, Garcia wasn’t even eligible for selection. He had resigned from the DP World Tour, and when Donald was asked about him in October 2024, the response was clear: not eligible. But Garcia paid his dues—literally. He settled his outstanding fines (reportedly around £1  million) and rejoined the DP World Tour as a member in good standing. That move made him Ryder Cup eligible again as of January 2025.

Even so, eligibility and selection are two very different things. Garcia isn’t automatically on the team—he has to prove he deserves it. “At the end of the day, it’s just about playing good golf and being consistent throughout the year,” he said. “I’m on his radar, and that’s something great to know. The only thing I can do is keep doing what I’m doing and keep giving me excuses, if you may call it that way, to have a chance of picking me hopefully when it comes down to the wire.”

Does Sergio Garcia deserve a spot?

There’s no denying his Ryder Cup legacy. Garcia is the tournament’s all-time leading points scorer with 28.5 points—more than any other player, European or American. He has played 10 Ryder Cups, 45 matches, and if he makes it this year, he’ll tie Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood for the most appearances by a European (11). But is legacy enough? Garcia is 45 now, and while he’s still capable of winning, the Ryder Cup is about momentum. He’s no longer competing on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour regularly, so his performances in LIV Golf events and any DP World Tour starts will be under heavy scrutiny.

And then there’s the team dynamic. The Ryder Cup isn’t just about individual ability—it’s about partnerships, chemistry, and handling pressure. Donald knows exactly what Garcia brings to a Ryder Cup locker room, but does that outweigh the case for younger, full-time DP World Tour players? “It’s very important to me, but it’s not life and death,” he said. “Obviously, I want to make that team as badly as possible. But if, for a reason, I don’t make it, it’s still fine. It’s not like my life is going to end. I’ll still be watching, I’ll still be supporting, but my goal is to be there, helping the team the best way I know how.”

There are two ways for Garcia to make Team Europe—either by qualifying on points or securing a captain’s pick. The first option seems tough. Garcia simply isn’t playing enough events that contribute to the Ryder Cup standings, which puts him at a major disadvantage compared to players competing regularly on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

That leaves the captain’s pick as his best shot. But for Luke Donald to choose him, Garcia needs to give him a reason—something that sets him apart from younger, in-form players who are also vying for a spot. And Garcia knows this. “I have to play really well in the events that obviously give Ryder Cup points, but if I cannot make it that way, there’s always a possibility of being picked,” he said. “The only thing I can do is to keep showing Luke what I’m made of and the things I can do.”

If there’s one thing Garcia brings to the table, it’s experience in hostile environments. The New York crowd at Bethpage Black will be brutal on Team Europe, and Garcia is one of the few players who thrives on that energy rather than crumbling under it. That alone won’t guarantee him a spot, but it’s something Donald has to consider.

What’s next for Sergio Garcia?

If Garcia wants a real shot at making Team Europe, his next big test is The Masters at Augusta National. There’s a lot on the line—5,000 Ryder Cup points are up for grabs, with the winner earning 835 points. That’s a massive opportunity, but here’s the catch: Garcia hasn’t exactly had the best track record at Augusta lately. Since winning the green jacket in 2017, he has failed to make the cut in five of his last six appearances.

That said, things are looking different this time. His form over the last nine months has been solid, and DataGolf currently ranks him as the 27th-best player in the world. If he can carry that momentum into Augusta and put up a strong performance, he’ll send a loud message to Luke Donald and the Ryder Cup selection committee.

But Augusta alone won’t be enough. Right now, Garcia is only confirmed for two of the four majors: The Masters at Augusta and the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow (via special invitation). His missed three-footer in Macau last week cost him a spot at Royal Portrush, his “favorite major.” As for the U.S. Open, he still needs to qualify. He’ll need to either play his way in through qualifying events or rely on an exemption based on his performances leading up to them.

If Garcia can find a way into more majors and put up solid performances, his Ryder Cup chances will get a serious boost. More points mean a stronger case for a captain’s pick, and if he makes the European team, the Americans better watch out—because no one in Ryder Cup history has done it better than him.

Garcia isn’t just fighting to make the team. He’s fighting to remind everyone why he’s one of the greatest Ryder Cup players of all time.