LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia will rejoin the DP World Tour for the 2025 season as the veteran Spaniard looks to play in next year’s Ryder Cup.
Garcia, who made history at the event, is looking to match Lee Westwood and Nick Faldo’s European record of 11 appearances in the tournament.
However, for that to happen, the 44-year-old has had to pay an outstanding fine – reportedly in excess of £1m – imposed on him by the DP World Tour for his previous defection to play LIV events, and will also have to temporarily suspended.
Garcia resigned from the European circuit in May last year after an arbitration panel ruled in favor of the DP World Tour and upheld its right to fine and ban players who compete in LIV Golf events without permission.
A spokesperson for the DP World Tour confirmed that former Masters winner Garcia has applied to return to membership before the November 17 deadline.
“He has paid his fines but will have to complete his suspension before he can play on the DP World Tour,” added the spokesperson.
European players wishing to be selected for the Ryder Cup must be members of the DP World Tour and play in a limited number of DP World Tour events.
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald recently said he had been talking to Garcia about the Spanish star returning to the tour and becoming eligible to play for the team.
Garcia joined LIV Golf in 2022 and is the captain of the Fireballs GC team. He won his first title at LIV Golf Andalucía in Valderrama this summer and finished third in this season’s LIV Golf League Individual Championship.
HATTON SELECTED FOR RYDER CUP ‘WARM-UP’ EVENT
In further evidence of the thawing relationship between the two hosts, LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton has been named in the GB and Ireland team to play in the Team Cup, the European Ryder Cup team warm-up event to be held in Abu Dhabi in January and includes. A 10-a-side match-play event between GB&I and Continental Europe players.
Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose will captain the latest edition of the competition, which is designed to test players and look for potential partnerships.
Hatton has played in the last three Ryder Cups, but put his future in doubt after switching to the LIV circuit in January. However, like Garcia, he appealed the DP World Tour’s plan to allow him to participate in end-of-season tournaments and retain membership.
He ended up finishing fourth in the Race to Dubai points standings, despite having only played in six DP World Tour events and four Majors. He won the Alfred Dunhill Links in October, finished second in Abu Dhabi and finished sixth in last week’s DP World Tour Championship.
Garcia has not been selected for the Team Cup as the suspension he will have to do will not be completed in time. He is expected to begin playing in DP World Tour events from February, as the 2025 LIV Golf season begins.
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