Sergio Garcia Reveals Missing PGA Tour Benefits That Forced Him to Risk Ryder Cup Position for LIV Golf

There are several perks of playing on the PGA Tour. You get to chase the OWGR, maintain a strong ranking, and, most importantly, earn the chance to represent your country in the Ryder Cup—a tournament that channels pure patriotism. Yet, ever since the inception of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League, we’ve seen several golfers defecting. The reason? Well, the lucrative contracts are hard to ignore. It’s no secret—when a player jumps ship to LIV Golf, the immediate assumption is that they did it for the money. And honestly, for many, that assumption is spot on. But not for everyone.

Take Sergio García, for example. Europe’s all-time leading Ryder Cup points scorer, a man whose passion for the biennial event has been undeniable for over two decades. He didn’t just play in the Ryder Cup—he thrived in it. And yet, knowing full well that joining LIV Golf might cost him the chance to ever play in it again, García still made the switch. Why? In a candid conversation on The Howie Games podcast, García laid it out. And surprisingly, it wasn’t about the paycheck.

“People might think that it was a very easy decision,” García admitted. “It wasn’t super difficult, but it wasn’t as easy as some people might think, because obviously you knew you were potentially giving up some things.” So, what was the trade-off? Time. Not money. Not ranking points. Not Ryder Cup prestige. It’s the precious time. “The possibility of having four or five months off and being able to spend a lot of time with the kids, with Angela, taking them to school, going to some of their sports activities,” he explained. “That was one of the main reasons to do it.”

García has always been a competitor, but he’s also a family man. After spending decades grinding it out on tour, week after week, tournament after tournament, LIV Golf gave him something the PGA Tour never could: flexibility. A schedule that allowed him to be there for his children. To have breakfast with them, to pick them up from school, to be present in a way that the relentless PGA grind never allowed. But that wasn’t the only reason. There was also something else—something that made LIV Golf appealing beyond the money or the lifestyle. The team format.

García has always thrived in team environments. His love for the Ryder Cup wasn’t just about the competition; it was about the camaraderie, the shared moments, the collective effort to achieve something bigger than himself. And in LIV Golf, with its team-oriented structure, he found a version of that same spirit. “The excitement about doing something new, something related to teams that I’ve always loved,” he said. “LIV and Fireballs [his team] gave me that great opportunity.”

Of course, the decision came with consequences. The Ryder Cup isn’t just a tournament—it’s a tradition, a source of pride. And for many European fans, seeing García risk his Ryder Cup future was almost unthinkable. In fact, for a while, it seemed like he had shut the door on that chapter of his career. So, when he chose LIV Golf, knowing it could cost him his Ryder Cup future, it left many people stunned.

For a while, it seemed like he had made peace with that choice. No regrets, no looking back. But if there’s one thing about García, it’s that his love for the Ryder Cup runs deep. And as time passed, maybe the idea of never wearing European colors again didn’t sit as well as he thought.

So, in late 2024, he made a bold move—one that showed he wasn’t quite ready to close that chapter just yet.

Denied a Ryder Cup comeback but given a new stage

For months, Sergio García had one goal—getting back into the DP World Tour and maybe, just maybe, earning a shot at the 2025 Ryder Cup. He even went as far as paying over €1 million  ($1.06 million) in fines to clear the way. It seemed like he was doing everything right. But for now, that door has been shut.

The DP World Tour has officially denied his request to rejoin, and just like that, his Ryder Cup hopes have taken a major hit. For a guy who holds the record as Europe’s all-time Ryder Cup points leader, that’s a brutal blow. Yet, just as one opportunity slipped away, another came knocking. In a surprising twist, García received an invitation to play in the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Indeed that’s a big deal considering his uncertain status in major tournaments. And let’s just say, he’s pretty pumped about it.

He broke the news on Instagram, calling it the “best news ever” to start his season. Already in Riyadh prepping with his LIV Golf squad, Fireballs, García couldn’t hide his excitement. “What a great honor,” he said, thanking the PGA Championship for the opportunity. Now, this is a chance for García to prove he still belongs on the biggest stages, despite all the setbacks.

So, what’s next for García? For now, no DP World Tour, and no Ryder Cup. But with Quail Hollow on the horizon, he’s got one thing on his mind—reminding the world exactly who he is. And if there’s one thing about Sergio García, it’s that he doesn’t go down without a fight.