Sergio García’s dreams of making a triumphant return to the Ryder Cup have been shattered, forcing the Spanish golf icon to withdraw from this weekend’s Irish Open. The disappointment stems from his exclusion as a captain’s pick for the European Ryder Cup team, a decision revealed by Captain Luke Donald earlier this week. García, a formidable ten-time Ryder Cup veteran, now finds himself sidelined during a pivotal moment in his storied career.
In a candid interview with GolfMagic UK, García expressed the emotional toll of not being selected. “I really wanted to be part of that team, so mentally it was a bit tough,” he admitted. The weight of this disappointment led him to make a strategic decision: instead of attending the tournament without a role, he opted to take a break and focus on family and personal rejuvenation. “I didn’t want to go there and not be fully involved in the tournament and all that, so I decided to take a little bit of time off and spend it with the family and do a few things, some things outside of golf, and just reset a little bit, recharge,” he explained.
As the Irish Open kicks off at The K Club in County Kildare, Ireland, García’s absence is palpable. At 45, the veteran golfer currently competes in the LIV Golf League, which has complicated his path to earning crucial ranking points for automatic Ryder Cup qualification. Notably, García stands as the all-time leading points scorer in Ryder Cup history, boasting an impressive 28.5 points alongside a record of 25 wins, 13 losses, and 7 ties. By comparison, the legendary Billy Casper, who passed away in 2015, garnered 23.5 points with a 20-10-7 record.
García’s last appearance for Team Europe came in the 2021 Ryder Cup, which ended in disappointment at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. This year, however, the team will feature fresh faces as Donald has chosen Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, and Sepp Straka—each of whom contributed to the victorious European squad at the recent Marco Simone Golf and Country Club showdown in Rome.
The 45th Ryder Cup is set to take place from September 26-28 at the iconic Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, and while García won’t be on the course, he remains a steadfast supporter. Reflecting on his conversation with Captain Donald, he remarked, “The call with Luke was good, but it wasn’t the call I wanted, obviously, but the conversation was good.” With a heavy heart, he resolves to cheer on his teammates from afar, embodying the spirit of camaraderie that defines the Ryder Cup. “Now, all I can do is support the team from home. It’s as simple as that. I’ll be watching and cheering on the European team.”
