05 July 2023 , 15:14
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The DP World Tour have been pressured by golfer Graeme McDowell to not look "foolish" ahead of the Ryder Cup.
CEO Keith Pelley told golfers that joined LIV Golf League that it's unlikely they'll be reinstated this season, meaning they won't be eligible for the Ryder Cup. Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are some of the European golfers set to miss out, after being fined and banned for their involvement with LIV back in May.
Former vice-captain McDowell thinks that they should still be considered for the prestigious tournament, as team USA are likely to utilise LIV stars Talor Gooch and Brooks Koepka. American LIV players are eligible, and McDowell thinks that the double standards will make the competition look silly.
"To ignore LIV because of politics when the US have those players in their side doesn't make any sense," said McDowell to BBC Sport. "It makes Europe's tour look foolish.
"Talor Gooch and Brooks Koepka are going to be on the US Ryder Cup team, I think that's pretty obvious. I hope that if one of the European players at LIV puts in a summer deserving of a spot on the Ryder Cup side that the landscape would be available for that to happen."
The former vice-captain is loyal to his European team-mates, and is pushing for Garcia to be reinstated immediately as the Spaniard is perfect for the team. "I think Sergio Garcia is probably the lead guy right now and I think the European team room would be better with a Sergio Garcia in it," McDowell added.
"I read the stuff with him and Rory McIlroy [resolving their differences] and I'm super happy that those guys have moved on from stuff that shouldn't have come between them - politics and business. "I'd love to see them walking down a fairway in Rome, winning a foursomes match together. I think that's what every European Ryder Cup fan wants."
The European Ryder Cup team could be limited compared to their US rivals (2021 Getty Images) Garcia may be good for the team room and also bring vast experience, but fans were offered a reminder this week that his powers are not what they once were. The 43-year-old failed to qualify for the Open Championship for the first time in 25 years, ending his incredible streak.
The Spaniard has also sunk to 219th in the world rankings, but Garcia is confident he'll be back competing in the near future. "I haven’t missed many majors since I turned pro in 1999, just one before of Covid and the PGA, and unfortunately, I’ll miss this one," the 43-year-old told Bunkered. “
"It’s a shame. I felt like I had it early on and I was going nicely. I got a pretty bad break on seven in the afternoon that stopped my momentum a bit, and it was tough to get going again. I’m sure that a lot of the people who were following me today would’ve loved to have seen me at Hoylake, but hopefully, I’ll be back soon."