Sergio Garcia Made Last-Minute Effort to Play in Ryder Cup and Was Rejected, Per Report

Garcia offered to pay £700,000 in fines to the DP World Tour in exchange for the chance to play in Rome

Sergio Garcia won’t be a part of this year’s European Ryder Cup team, but apparently he made a last-minute plea to compete in the biennial event.

According to a report from the Telegraph, Garcia offered to pay an estimated £700,000 in fines to the DP World Tour in exchange for the chance to play in Rome. 

“They suddenly came to us and said that not only would he pay the £100,000 but also all of the outstanding fines if he was allowed to play,” a source told the Telegraph’s James Corrigan.

Unfortunately for Garcia, who joined LIV golf last summer, the DP World Tour rejected his offer. Garcia resigned his DP World Tour membership back in May and will not be able to apply for reinstatement until next year.  

Garcia also reportedly offered to play in DP World Tour events in exchange for a Ryder Cup exception, but the Tour did not budge. 

“They also said they’d play in whatever events we wanted, apart from those that clashed with the remaining LIV tournaments,” the source told the Telegraph. “But it was explained that, despite the ongoing peace talks, as he had resigned his membership, he is not eligible to join until next year.” 

Sergio Garcia has the most wins in Ryder Cup history.  :: Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Garcia gave up his membership with the DP World Tour when sanctions were placed on LIV golfers for playing in the breakaway league’s first two events in 2022. The DP World Tour won a U.K. arbitration case in April, which allowed them to impose £100,000 on players who teed it up at LIV without a proper conflicting-event release. 

A total of 17 players were fined for the breach of Tour rules, but Garcia is believed to be the only golfer who has refused to pay the penalty. 

“Sergio Garcia has not paid his £100,000 fine, nor has he given any indication that he intends to,” the DP World Tour said in a statement in May. “We will therefore take appropriate action if he continues not to respect the Sport Resolution panel’s decision.”

According to the Telegraph, Garcia not only offered to pay the original £100,000, but a large sum of outstanding fines as well. 

Garcia, 43, has the most wins in Ryder Cup history. In 10 total appearances he has a 25-13-7 record.