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After Suffering a Massive Blow to His Legacy, Luke Donald Helps Veteran Sergio Garcia ‘Understand’ His Ryder Cup Setback

Published 09/12/2023, 5:00 AM EDT

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Everyone in the golf world is on the lookout for the upcoming Ryder Cup as the two teams gear up to square it out at the Marco Simone Golf Course. The announcement of both captains, especially by Luke Donald, had caused a frenzy in the golf world. But even so, it did not come as a surprise when Sergio Garcia was denied a place in the group.

The Spanish professional golfer had been at the center of controversy when he moved to the LIV Golf Series. The defection led to him being in a tough spot with regards to a selection that was then subsequently ruled out by his resignation from the DP World Tour. Nevertheless, the skipper made sure to help the Spaniard “understand” the reason behind his exclusion.

Luke Donald shares his call with Sergio Garcia

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Garcia has been an integral part of the Ryder Cup for close to 25 years. He has represented Europe a total of ten times since 1999. The 43-year-old golfer holds the record for the most points in the history of the prestigious event. But this did not stop his name from being glossed over in the upcoming showdown as the 1X major winner bowed out of the European Tour.

But Donald, being an exemplary peer, went ahead to call the 11-time PGA Tour winner to “let him know that he wouldn’t be taking part in this year’s event.” The skipper continued explaining the call he had with the golfer as Garcia went ahead to wish the team well.

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Moreover, the English professional revealed how it would be his first Ryder Cup without the Spanish counterpart. Nevertheless, the 5X PGA Tour winner ensured his peer’s understanding as he went ahead to mention how “he was more than supportive when I talked to him just a few weeks ago” while describing his considerate nature.

USA Today via Reuters

Although they suffered a defeat at the hands of the USA in 2021, Garcia went down with a fight, recording an individual score of 3-1 at the patriotic showdown leading him to hold 28.5 points in the history of the tournament. But even so, such a record was not enough to warrant a call to the team leading him to suffer a blow to his legacy.

Garcia’s unfortunate exclusion from the Ryder Cup

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The European skipper had earlier disclosed how the Spanish golfer wanted some assurances from the Englishman regarding the Ryder Cup which he couldn’t possibly give. But the 2017 Masters Tournament champion misunderstood his colleague’s words which subsequently acted as one of the reasons for his resignation from the DP World Tour.

His complete defection earned him the ire of many players and fans alike leading him to get completely ruled out of the potential wild card picks.

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But nevertheless, Donald expressed his respect for the golfer as he put forth his side of the story. Moreover, the recent interaction between the duo stands as perfect evidence of the unhinged relationship between the professionals. Do you think Sergio Garcia can make a return to the Ryder Cup team? Share your thoughts below.

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Written by:

Allan Abe

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Allan Abe is a fresh golf writer at EssentiallySports. Tiger Woods was the golfer who inspired him into the sport, and he lives by what the legend once said, "No matter how good your get, you can always get better." Allan extends his love for golf by indulging in a little gaming in his free time, with PGA Tour 2K21 being his go to.
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Edited by:

Sharan Nair

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