Sergio Garcia has withdrawn from this week’s Irish Open, stating he was not in the right frame of mind to compete after being omitted from Luke Donald’s 2025 European Ryder Cup team.
The LIV Golf player explained that the disappointment of not being selected for the event at Bethpage Black in New York left him mentally unprepared for the tournament at The K Club.
“I was so looking forward to being a part of that team, and so I felt like mentally it was kind of tough,” Garcia said. “I didn’t want to go there and not be fully engaged in the tournament… so I just decided to take a little bit of time off and spend it with the family and… recharge the batteries.”
Garcia, the all-time leading Ryder Cup points scorer with 28.5, had returned to the DP World Tour this season in an effort to secure what would have been a record-tying 11th appearance. His last participation was at Whistling Straits in 2021, where he earned three points for the European side.
However, his hopes were dashed on Monday when Captain Luke Donald did not include him among his six wildcard selections. The decision was not entirely unexpected, as Donald had previously indicated that Garcia’s recent form in major championships—including a missed cut at The Masters and modest finishes at the PGA Championship and The Open—was a concern.
Reflecting on the conversation with the captain, Garcia said, “The call with Luke was fine but not the call I wanted, obviously.” Despite his personal disappointment, he added, “Now, the only thing I can do is support the team from home. I’ll be watching and cheering on the European team.”
As a result of competing on the LIV Golf circuit, which does not receive Official World Golf Ranking points, Garcia has fallen to 411th in the world. He still intends to compete in his home event, the Spanish Open, from October 9-12. Currently ranked 188th on the DP World Tour, he will need a strong performance there to qualify for the season-ending playoffs.
While his playing future for the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland remains uncertain, many observers have tipped Garcia as a potential European captain for the 2031 event in Spain.
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