Sergio Garcia Pulls Out Of Irish Open After Ryder Cup Rejection

Currently, the Irish Open is underway.  The tournament has seen Rory McIlroy return home to compete and decided to enjoy his time home after being away most of the year.  Something that had happened just before the event was the European Ryder Cup Team being filled out.  Despite all his hard work, Sergio Garcia found himself denied a position on Luke Donald’s team.  This has led to Garcia withdrawing from the Irish Open.

Previous Ryder Cups

Up until the 2023 Ryder Cup, Sergio Garcia was on the European Team for ten years straight.  He even broke the record for points scored.  The only reason Garcia didn’t join in 2023 was that was when he joined LIV Golf.  At the time, LIV Golf saw a massive backlash from major leagues like the PGA and the DP World Tour, Garcia’s original league.  In fact, Garcia was the only holdout for paying his fines when the DP won a court case against LIV.  Garcia eventually paid his fines last year and started working his way towards the Ryder Cup.  He was hoping his previous experience would help him gain a position, but it did not.

Garcia On His Rejection

Sergio Garcia didn’t take the news too well. Garcia was feeling detached from the sport, much like Matt Wallace.  In an interview with Golf Magic, Garcia says that he didn’t have the energy to be on the field and be invested in a tournament after his rejection.

“I felt like I was so looking forward to being a part of that team, and so I felt like mentally, you know, mentally it was kind of tough,” Garcia told GolfMagic. “I didn’t want to go there and not be fully engaged in the tournament and stuff, so I just decided to take a little bit of time off and spend it with the family and do a couple of things.  You know, some things outside of golf and just kind of reboot a little bit, recharge the batteries.”

Other players are confused as to why he withdrew.  Players like Rory McIlroy, who says that he just doesn’t understand the decision to withdraw.  McIlroy acknowledges and supports Garcia’s right to withdraw from a tournament as he sees fit, but he’s still confused by the decision.  Although McIlroy would rather see Garcia on the field.

Garcia During The Ryder Cup

Being rejected from the team doesn’t mean Sergio Garcia won’t support them.  However, he can.  In the aforementioned interview with Golf Magic, Garcia said that he will be cheering for the European Team.  Even if he has to do it from home, he still plans on watching the Ryder Cup.  After the Cup, he will most likely try again to get onto the team.  However, because he is a LIV Golfer, it means double the work for him if he wants to keep his LIV membership and his Ryder Cup standing.  Maybe once that time circles back around, he can defend his title for highest points scored as part of the European Team once again.  Until then, he will have to give his support from the sidelines.