Garcia’s U-turn to save Ryder Cup future

SERGIO GARCIA has U-turned on resigning from the DP World Tour in a bid to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup. The Spaniard, who is the all-time points record-holder in Ryder Cup matches, has joined the Saudibacked LIV Series and had already given up his PGA Tour membership.

He said after the Open nine days ago that he was also set to hand back his DP card. But he told ESPN that comments by his compatriot Jon Rahm fearing Garcia would be banned if he left the European Tour had changed his mind. ‘When I finished the Open, I said I was most likely going to resign my membership from the Tour. ‘Thanks to the things that Jon Rahm said, and I had a couple of good conversations with guys on the DP

World Tour, I’m going to hold off on that.’ Henrik Stenson was stripped of the Team Europe captaincy last week for joining the LIV tour, but Garcia is hopeful he can play in Rome next year.

‘I want to at least see what’s happening when the Ryder Cup qualification starts,’ he said. ‘See what kind of rules and eligibilities they have.

‘If I agree with what they are, I’ll definitely keep playing what I can on the tour and try to qualify for that Ryder Cup team. ‘And if not, then we’ll move on.’