While speaking with Rick Shiels in a video that was recorded in November but aired in February, Sergio Garcia surprisingly revealed that he intended on getting his DP World Tour card back so he could play in another Ryder Cup. In order for the Spaniard to remain a member, he’d have to play in a minimum of four DP World Tour events per season.

“I am going to be a member again of the European Tour,” he said. “I always said that I wanted to, when I joined LIV, keep being a member of the DP World Tour. Obviously, they didn’t make it too easy to be able to do that, I want to give myself the best possibility of playing the Ryder Cup.

“Only playing a handful of events, it is not easy to make it unless you do super well. But I guess at the end of the day if I am eligible, they see I am making the effort and I do well with LIV and I am consistent then at least hopefully I can be considered, not only because of my game but what I can bring to the team, and my history in the event.”

However, it appears Garcia did not apply to play on the DP World Tour and has missed the deadline to do so. While speaking with James Corrigan of The Telegraph, DP World Tour officials are skeptical of Garcia’s efforts.

“Sergio is either in denial or he is completely oblivious to the hurdles he must clear to become a member again.”

Corrigan added that “Officials at Wentworth headquarters were baffled by Garcia’s comments”.

Another major problem for Sergio is the fact that he owes about $1 million in fines to the DP World Tour.

The source told Corrigan:

“Sergio’s statement was bizarre, seeing as he resigned when refusing to pay the first fine,” a source said. “He is probably hoping a deal is worked out in the current negotiations with PIF [the Saudi sovereign wealth fund], and there is an amnesty and a clear pathway back.

“But there is a strong feeling among the tour’s rank and file that the fines will have to be honoured first – and Sergio has only so far offered to pay if he could be considered for the Ryder Cup.

“Let’s just say that as of now his plan is unlikely and there is a stipulation that the regulations for 2024 stipulate that applications for membership can be rejected for any reason whatsoever.”

Clearly, despite Garcia’s words in the Rick Shiels interview, the all-time leading scorer in European Ryder Cup history’s priorities remain elsewhere.

More from the 19th Hole

In what’s become a staple of his social media game over the past few seasons, DP World Tour player Eddie Pepperell took to X to call a few LIV golfers “f*****g idiots.”

Within two days, one LIV golfer suggests Rory winning the Grand Slam in April should come with an asterisk, and another player, idolised and mythologised by so many, returns to pro golf by joining LIV and remarks that he's somehow "hated".. ?

Honestly, these f*cking idiots.

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) February 28, 2024

The Englishman was referring to Talor Gooch’s comments regarding a Rory McIlroy potential Masters victory having an asterisk due to certain LIV players not being in the field.

“If Rory McIlroy completes his Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there’s just going to be an asterisk,” Gooch said to Australian Golf Digest.

In terms of Pepperell’s “haters” comment, he was referring to Anthony Kim’s Instagram post, where at the end AK says, “Hello Haters. I’m Back”.

pic.twitter.com/XBe9T0v0hG

— Anthony Kim (@AnthonyKim_Golf) February 29, 2024

More from the 19th Hole

On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy appeared to tease a potential move to LIV Golf while speaking to the media.

Last week, Rory’s former agent Chubby Chandler told Bunkered that he wouldn’t be surprised to see McIlroy go to LIV for somewhere in the $950 million neighborhood.

“If you were being cynical, you might say he’s going to sign for about £750 million [around $950 million] in a month’s time with LIV because he’s paving the way that LIV’s okay now, whereas it wasn’t,” Chandler had said. “Who knows? He doesn’t need £750 million but it’s odd what he’s done and I’m sure it’s a possibility. If he does it or not, I don’t know, but if [Jon] Rahm can do it, most guys can do it.”

When asked what he thought of Chandler’s comments, the Northern Irishman played along.

“I think he’s writing a book, so there is that. I spoke to Chubby, I might have seen him in the Middle East at the start of the year.

“Never know. He might know a few things. Who knows?”

Rory addresses the LIV rumour pic.twitter.com/1jwQSb7r9f

— Rory Tracker (@RoryTrackr) February 28, 2024

It’s likely that Rory was having a bit of fun with the media allowing the rumor to continue to swirl, but LIV fans on X certainly took the comments as a clear sign that a move to LIV could one day be on the cards for McIlroy.

The 34-year-old will tee it up on Thursday at PGA National for the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches.

More from the 19th Hole