Luke Donald text to Sergio Garcia sums up relationship as LIV Golf star eyes Ryder Cup return

Sergio Garcia has been ineligible to compete at the Ryder Cup having resigned his DP World Tour membership on the back of his LIV Golf move, but now he is targeting a return

Luke Donald has revealed has been in contact with Sergio Garcia and his team over potentially making a return to the DP World Tour and Ryder Cup in 2025.

Garcia is Europe's most coveted Ryder Cup player, having become an all-time great in the matchplay event during his career. His relationship with the Ryder Cup came to an end last year though, after the Spaniard opted to resign from the DP World Tour having been sanctioned for joining LIV Golf.

Whilst making the Saudi switch does not make a European player ineligible, they are required to hold a DP World Tour card, something the Spaniard gave up following a number of fines for competing in 'conflicting' events.

Despite this, it appears the former Masters champion is keen on regaining his membership in order to make a return to the Ryder Cup. Speaking ahead of this week's British Masters at The Belfry, captain Donald admitted he had spoken with Garcia's agent over a possible comeback.

"I saw his manager Carlos at The Open, and he mentioned [reapplying for DP World Tour membership]," he told reporters. "I spoke to his agent. I know he's been playing quite well. Again, the more people we have to choose from, the better." Garcia is clearly still an ally of the European skipper, who reached out to his former teammate following his maiden LIV win on home soil at Valderrama last month.

Donald went on: "I sent Sergio a message of congrats when he won Andalucía, Valderrama. But outside of that, I haven't really talked to him about specifics of whether he's joining." The Spaniard himself revealed to the Rick Shiels Podcast last November that he intends to regain membership with the DP World Tour, with future Ryder Cups a goal of his.

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In order to do so, Garcia would be required to pay off any outstanding fines, as well as playing four Tour events in 2025 before qualification closes. “I am going to be a member again of the European Tour,” Garcia 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, [but] I want to give myself the best possibility of playing the Ryder Cup.” Initially the report was played down by DP World Tour chiefs, who informed The Telegraph that Garcia's plan was 'unlikely'.

"He is probably hoping a deal is worked out in the current negotiations with PIF, and there is an amnesty and a clear pathway back,” a source told the report. “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.”