LIV Golf recruit Sergio Garcia makes interesting Ryder Cup claim

Sergio Garcia says making the 2025 European Ryder Cup team is important but it's 'not life or death'. 

Europe's all-time leading points scorer is already on Luke Donald's radar having begun the LIV Golf season in red-hot form. 

Garcia picked up his second victory on the breakaway tour in Hong Kong and is currently third in LIV's individual standings behind Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm. 

If the Spaniard continues to impress in the major championships then it would seem difficult to justify omitting the Ryder Cup veteran. 

"It's very important to me, but it's not life and death," Garcia told Today's Golfer. 

"Obviously, I want to make that team as badly as possible. But if, for a reason, I don't make it, it's still fine. It's not like my life is going to end.

"I'll still be watching, I'll still be supporting, but my goal is to be there, helping the team the best way I know how – which is with my game what I can bring in the team room.

"We'll see what happens. There is still many months to go until that decision is made. I'll just keep working hard and keep playing the best golf that I can."

Garcia will play in at least two major championships in 2025.

The 45-year-old will make his 100th major appearance in a few weeks' time at Augusta National when he tees it up at The Masters. 

The PGA of America have also given Garcia and Niemann exemptions into the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. 

Over the weekend, Garcia had the opportunity to book his spot for The Open.

The top three players in the International Series' event in Macau offered spots in the field at Royal Portrush. 

Garcia had a three-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to get into the top three but missed.

Still, he could get into The Open and U.S. Open through qualifying or by being the leading LIV player. 

As for Donald, the skipper will be quietly confident with how his team is shaping up ahead of the matches at Bethpage Black.

Rory McIlroy has won twice on the PGA Tour this season. 

Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Thomas Detry and Viktor Hovland have also all been in the winner's circle.

Garcia's LIV victory didn't go unnoticed. 

"He said congrats and told me it was great to see another European win out there," Garcia said of Donald. 

"We've been talking for a while now. We enjoy talking to each other and seeing what's going on.  

"But we're not only friends, but we’ve been in Ryder Cups together and in several teams together.

"So he knows what I can bring to the team. 

"It will come down to him and his team deciding if I can bring something extra to the team that might help.

"I think I'm on his radar, and that's something."