Just how badly did Sergio Garcia want to play in next week’s Ryder Cup in Rome?
According to a report by the Telegraph, Garcia, who resigned his DP World Tour membership after joining LIV, went to great lengths to help his own cause, offering to pay nearly a million dollars in fines to the DP World Tour.
In a last-ditch effort to be a part of the European squad, Garcia’s offer was for £700,000, or about $867,000, according to golf writer Jamie Corrigan.
Jon Rahm has openly campaigned for Garcia, his fellow Spaniard who boasts the most wins in Ryder Cup history, to be allowed to play in the upcoming Ryder Cup.
Garcia, along with the likes of former European Ryder Cup stalwarts such as Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer were deemed ineligible to be selected to Luke Donald’s Euro squad because one of the requirements is to be a member of the DP World Tour, which runs the European side for the biennial matches. Garcia resigned in May.
The 43-year-old former Masters champion has played for LIV Golf since 2022 and initially refused to pay a hefty fine to the DP World Tour, scheduled to get underway in Italy on Sept. 29. The tour reportedly declined his offer.
In 10 total appearances at the Ryder Cup, Garcia has a 25-13-7 record.
Garcia will be competing near Chicago this week at the next LIV Golf event, the 12th of 14 events on the 2023 schedule.