Rahm calls on Ryder Cup spot for LIV star Garcia "even if he was missing a leg”
Jon Rahm has called for his fellow Spaniard and playing partner in 2021 Sergio Garcia to be included in the European Ryder Cup team at Marco Simone next month.
Throughout his career Garcia has cemented his status as a Ryder Cup great, winning more points than any other player in the competition's history. This has made the Spanish star a mainstay in the European setup for over two decades, but his stay in the team appears to be over.
Garcia became one of a number of high profile players to join the LIV Golf setup following its inception last summer, and it has done his Ryder Cup chances no favours.
On the back of his Saudi switch Garcia was forced to resign his DP World Tour membership amid hostilities, which appeared to have brought his hopes of competing at Marco Simone to an end. Despite the eligibility issue, fellow countryman Rahm believes Garcia should make the 12-man team at all costs.
The pair formed quite the partnership alongside each other in the matchplay event at Whistling Straits two years ago, winning all three games they played together and proving to be one of very few bright sparks in a dismal European Ryder Cup showing under Padraig Harrington. Speaking on the Golf Sin Etiquetas podcast - and translated by Handicap 54 - Rahm called on Garcia to be involved no matter the circumstances.
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Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia have history of impressing at the Ryder Cup (Warren Little/Getty Images)"With all the respect for European players, the only one from LIV Golf that I would choose for the Ryder Cup team would be Sergio Garcia, even if he was missing a leg." Garcia was one of a number of Ryder Cup stalwarts who quit the DP World Tour, alongside the likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter who have been talismanic for Europe through the years.
Whilst the Europeans look set to have no LIV stars in their Ryder Cup team captained by Luke Donald, the same cannot be said for the Americans. Following his victory at the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka looks set to earn a spot on Team USA as he currently sits fourth in the standings, with qualification coming to an end in just three weeks.
Even if the LIV Golf star does slip out of the top automatic six spots, U.S. skipper Zach Johnson is expected to name Koepka as one of his six captain's picks after impressing on the major stage throughout 2023. Whether anyone else makes the lineup remains to be scene.
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