A number of greats have quit LIV Golf, prompting speculation they could return to the Ryder Cup captaincy fold. But, writes Ben Parsons, there’s still one small problem…
Several European legends are joining the exodus from LIV Golf, but it would take a dramatic U-turn at this stage for their Ryder Cup expulsion to be overruled.
TG understands that a long-standing rule which effectively bans the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell from representing Europe as captains or vice-captains, is not expected to be changed in the near future to accommodate the returning greats.
In January 2017, long before the LIV disruption began, the DP World Tour added a crucial regulation to its rulebook which states: “Players cannot be a European Ryder Cup captain or a vice-captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfil their minimum event obligation in any season.”
Veterans of the blue-and-gold lured by LIV all relinquished their memberships for at least one season after joining the breakaway league. Some made their decisions based on the fines and bans being imposed upon them for playing in conflicting LIV events, which were upheld by a sports arbitration panel in 2023.
And despite the thawing of tensions in recent years, it is still unlikely that special concessions will be made to open up what is a limited captaincy pool. Luke Donald, who famously only became European captain because the incumbent skipper Henrik Stenson defected to LIV, will not have the returning players to choose from as he weighs up appointing his assistants for Adare Manor.
Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari and Rory McIlroy are now the next in line after Donald’s five-year run on a captaincy conveyor belt that was upended by the game’s great divide.
Poulter and McDowell, who have both declared themselves out of LIV 2.0 in recent days, were both seen as skippers in waiting before jumping to LIV. The duo could both recover their DP World Tour cards next season with Legends category status, but the Ryder Cup will remain out of reach.
Sergio Garcia has signaled his intention to return to Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup setup at Adare Manor. (Getty Images)
Westwood is yet to announce his decision on his own future, but Garcia also appears to be heading for the LIV exit door after stating that he’ll be returning to his former domain “without a doubt” next season. After Wentworth HQ hardened its stance, players who commit to LIV 2.0 will be blocked from accepting DP World Tour membership next season.
And Garcia, Europe’s all-time record points scorer, still has ambitious plans to extend his tally and be part of of Donald’s dozen in Ireland.
“I’ve spoken with Luke,” the 46-year-old revealed last month. “I told him I’m going to do everything I can to make the team, or that I’m willing to help in any way – as a vice-captain or however else they might need me.”
Last year, Garcia was tipped by Jon Rahm to lead Europe on home soil Ryder Cup at the Camiral resort in 2031, just as Seve Ballesteros did at Valderrama back in 1997.
But without an unforeseen reversal in the rulebook, it appears there will be no way back.