LIV Golf will be solely represented by Brooks Koepka at the upcoming 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.
If Jon Rahm had it his way, more players who left for the upstart circuit would be involved, especially on his European side. The world No. 3 has often gone to bat for LIV player and fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, and he did so again ahead of this week’s 2023 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England.
“I think it would be really stupid of anybody not to lean on Sergio García’s experience in the Ryder Cup,” said Rahm when asked if he would like to see his friend back in the fold as a vice captain. “I mean, he is the best player Europe has ever had, won the most points and has shown it time and time again. If he were able to be a vice captain, I absolutely would lean on him. Same as we are going to lean on (Jose Maria Olazabal) this coming Ryder Cup, right.”
The future Ryder Cup prospects for players who joined LIV Golf are largely still uncertain as the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund continue to iron out the details of their proposed new golf entity. In order to represent Team Europe, a player must be a member of the DP World Tour. In May, Garcia and fellow European stalwarts Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood resigned their membership to the European-based tour.
MORE: Meet the 2023 European Ryder Cup team
“When it comes to the game and all those players being able to be back, it’s been a difficult time,” said Rahm. “Obviously things have changed a little bit. I wouldn’t know how to answer because we are going to have to see if it’s possible or not, right?
“I would like to see it but unfortunately we’ve seen some of those players give up their (DP World) Tour status where that’s no longer a possibility,” he continued. “So I would like to see it but we don’t know what the future holds, right? I think with this agreement or this possible union between the PGA Tour, DP World and PIF might change things a little bit.”
The Americans will look to win on foreign soil for the first time in 30 years later this month at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Italy, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Rahm will make his third appearance for the European side (2018, 2021, 2023) and boasts a 4-3-1 record in the event. Garcia is the second-most capped player with 10 appearances behind Lee Westwood (11) but leads the all-time points list at 28.5 thanks to a stellar 25–13–7 record.