24 Years Later, Sergio Garcia Saddened by Unfortunate End to His Legacy

Earlier this month, LIV’s Sergio Garcia followed the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Richard Bland in resigning from the DP World Tour. After all, they were among the golfers who the Tour sanctioned for breaching its Conflicting Tournaments Regulation last year.

Garcia’s decision did not come as a shock to many, but fans were saddened to learn that the move made him ineligible for the impending Ryder Cup competition. So, how did the LIV pro take the news? Let’s find out!

Sergio Garcia reflects on his Ryder Cup woes

While several of his compatriots in LIV have witnessed significant success since joining the Saudi-backed league last year, Sergio Garcia has found himself in a series of messy situations of late. He faced a massive setback earlier this month when he failed to qualify for the 2023 PGA Championship. To add to his plate, the DP World Tour threatened Garcia with further sanctions if he failed to pay his impending £100,000 ($126,000) fine.

Furthermore, his LIV Golf move and recent resignation from the DP World Tour have also ruled him out of being a part of Team Europe in the Ryder Cup. So, how does Garcia feel about missing out on the biennial event? Has the Spaniard been in touch with Team Europe captain Luke Donald?

“I talked to him two or three weeks ago,” said the 43-year-old currently playing in LIV Golf DC. “I wanted to see where I stood in regards to the Ryder Cup.” Per the LIV golfer, Donald had made it clear that Garcia had “no chance.”

He made his European Team debut 24 years ago, and the only other time the golfer wasn’t a part of the roster was in 2010. “I was sad because I felt like, not only because of my history but the way I’ve been playing, that I probably could have a chance,” he confessed.

Also Read: Days After a Thrilling Career Update, Sergio Garcia’s ‘Easy and Flawless’ 45-Second Video Makes Golf World React: ‘If You Hate the PGA Tour…’

LIV’s Garcia, Westwood, and Poulter have appeared in a total of 28 Ryder Cups among them, and the 2017 Masters winner is also the competition’s record points scorer with 28.5. Amidst his string of misfortunes, Garcia recently received a piece of thrilling news as he qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open.

Garcia qualifies for next month’s U.S. Open

Sergio Garcia’s absence from Oak Hill’s 156-player field came as a shock to many. After all, the only time the golfer had missed a major since 1999 was the 2020 Masters due to COVID-19. However, his PGA Championship heartbreak is now in the past, as the golfer became the third Spaniard besides Jon Rahm and Alex del Rey to qualify for the year’s third major.

Since his one and only major triumph was over five years ago, Garcia has lost his exemption to play in the U.S. Open. Moreover, LIV events do not get any OWGR points, which is why the golfer has dropped to World No. 206 in the rankings. However, he ended up earning his eligibility by competing in a 36-hole qualifier contested at Northwood Club and Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas, Texas, where he tied for fourth with two rounds of 66.

The LIV pro’s last major appearance came at the Masters, where he failed to make the cut. He will wish to bounce back into form for the upcoming major, which kicks off on June 12.

Watch This Story: Greg Norman’s Masterplan For LIV Golf Fails to Honor Brooks Koepka, Despite His Ambitious Urge to Make a Statement

What do you think of Garcia’s latest Ryder Cup revelation? Do you think the golfer’s fortunes will turn in the coming major? Tell us in the comments!