The 44th Ryder Cup has still some months left before it consumes the golf world for three consecutive days. But, it hasn’t stopped the tournament from attracting all the noise and news. The most prominent interest has inclined toward who will or will not participate at Marco Simone. Players who get to represent their country in the international arena will play an important role in the event.

However, not all professional stars will be given this opportunity. The players who shifted to LIV Golf faced the uncertainty of participating in the tournament scheduled for 29th September 2023. While not many statements have been released with regard to the issue, a strong comment from World No. 2 Jon Rahm grasped the attention of the golf world when he was asked about a fellow European LIV golfer.

Jon Rahm expresses sadness over Sergio Garcia not being in the Ryder Cup

It is no news that LIV Golf players, after their transfer to the new Saudi-backed league, were met with certain hurdles. Apart from not being able to gather any OWGR points through LIV events, they also encountered a big question mark concerning the 2023 Ryder Cup. On one hand, the American captain has given a reticent response on his team selection for the Ryder Cup, while on the other hand, the European Captain Luke Donald has stated some strong confirmations.

He affirmed that the LIV players who have given up their DP World Tour membership are sure to be absent from the European team. The Captain of the European side does not seem to concern himself with any sort of ‘captain’s agreement’ with Zach Johnson. Hence, the separate stance.

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‘Might Have to Play Together..’: DP World Tour Pro Reveals Uplifting Message From Jon Rahm as Prestigious Golfing Event Draws Near

However, the Spanish golfer Jon Rahm believes that only the best European players should be on the team. It does not matter which tour they are associated with. As per the recent tweet of Golf Digest, Rahm did not sound happy when Sergio Garcia‘s absence from the Ryder Cup was mentioned.

The Spaniard, commenting on his compatriot’s pass over, said,  “It’s a little sad to me that politics have gotten in the way of such a beautiful event. Who is playing LIV and who is not playing LIV to me shouldn’t matter.” It is understandable why Rahm would feel this way. He has after all shared the greens during the Ryder Cup with Sergio Garcia.

While Jon expressed his sadness because of Garcia’s ineligibility to qualify, his captain’s opinion was from the leadership front. In one of the interviews, reported by the Mirror UK, Luke Donald said, “It is a shame. They’ve (referring to players who gave up their DP World Tour card) got a lot of history when it comes to the Ryder Cup. Ultimately this is their choice and I wish them well. They feel like this was the best choice for them and now I’ve got choices to make that are best for me.”

Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup legacy ends after 24 years

The 43-year-old golfer is a renowned player because of the legacy he has built. Playing for the European team since 1999 (except 2010) at the Ryder Cup tops the list. Unfortunately, this ended in 2023. Sergio Garcia wouldn’t be eligible to represent the European team this year in Italy. 

Not only Garcia but other LIV golfers like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Richard Bland cannot take part in the tournament. The reason for their non-involvement is not only their association with Greg Norman’s LIV Golf but their surrender of the DP World Tour membership.

Everyone wants to participate in the biennial event, especially if they have already been a part of it. Thus, it was only obvious for Sergio Garcia to want to know where he stood when it comes to the Ryder Cup.

Garcia said, “I talked to him (Luke Donald) two or three weeks ago“. It was confirmed by the golfer himself that the answer was he ‘had no chance.‘

Watch this story: Greg Norman’s Masterplan For LIV Golf Fails to Honor Brooks Koepka, Despite His Ambitious Urge to Make a Statement

What do you think of Jon Rahm’s reaction to Sergio Garcia’s ineligibility for the Ryder Cup? Share your thoughts in the comments below!