LIV Golf star and former Masters champion Sergio Garcia is eyeing a stunning Ryder Cup return after an excellent victory at the Hong Kong event on the breakaway tour.
The third LIV Golf tournament of the 2025 season saw Garcia claim an excellent three-stroke win over South African Dean Burmester. Entering the final round tied for the lead, the 2017 Masters winner shot a sublime 7-under 63, which included an eagle on the par-5 third to win just his second title since joining the tour in 2022.
In November 2024, Garcia rejoined the DP World Tour, paying fines of around £1m in the process in order to be eligible for the biennial event.
“We’ve been in touch, so I know that he [Donald] is keeping an eye [on me]. The only thing I can do is keep playing good golf,” said Garcia after his emotional victory in Hong Kong.
“I just want to help the European team like I’ve tried to do every single time I’ve been a member of that team. Hopefully, he will think I’m good enough for it.”
If – and it is a big if – he returns to make his 11th appearance at the Ryder Cup, it would be an incredible turnaround for the 45-year-old.
Sergio Garcia eyes record-equaling 11th appearance at the Ryder Cup
2022 proved to be a pivotal year in Garcia’s career. Following his victory at the Masters in 2017, the Spainard proceeded to miss the cut in 11 of the next 17 majors he competed in, claiming just a solitary PGA Tour win during that time.
Rumors linking him with the breakaway tour heightened in May 2022. At the Wells Fargo Championship, Garcia delivered an astonishing tirade towards the officials following a lost ball ruling.
“I can’t wait to leave this tour.
“Just a couple more weeks until I don’t have to deal with (the rules official) anymore.” Shouted the player and it was evident he was on his way to join LIV.
At that, his chances of playing in another Ryder Cup looked to be over. As such, he didn’t make the field for the 2023 edition, which didn’t feature a single LIV golfer on team Europe. Since then, however, there have been plenty of changes. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have since defected to the tour and, barring any injuries, will be key members of Donald’s team in New York. Might this open the door ajar for Garcia? Perhaps. But he will have to continue this fine run of golf over the next few months to stand a chance of securing a captain’s pick in September.
A decent showing at the Masters would be a great start, while he was awarded an invite to the PGA Championship taking place at Quail Hollow this year, ironically, the scene of his outburst weeks before joining LIV.
His inclusion would certainly raise eyebrows, yet Garcia finished third in the individual standings of the 2024 LIV Golf season. Furthermore, the 45-year-old hasn’t finished outside the top 20 of any event since LIV Adelaide last April.
Victorious in six Ryder Cup teams since his debut in 1999, Garcia would add plenty of experience to a side dreaming of a first away win in over a decade.
The next few months will be crucial for the Spaniard. That much is certain.
