Sergio Garcia on why he's not letting himself dream of Ryder Cup captaincy

Sergio Garcia tells GolfMagic he still feels like his game is 'good enough to play in future Ryder Cups'.

12 Oct 2024

Sergio Garcia has revealed to GolfMagic that he is not yet letting himself dream of being European Ryder Cup captain since he considers he is a 'still good enough to play in future Ryder Cups'.

Garcia, 44, was speaking exclusively to GolfMagic ahead of hosting his third annual FORE Kids ATX golf tournament & PAR-Tee on 1-2 November that contributes to the Sergio & Angela Garcia Foundation.

The Spaniard spoke to GolfMagic Editor Andy Roberts just 48 hours after Donald confirmed he was in talks with Garcia about a possible return to the Ryder Cup team.

READ OUR FULL EXCLUSIVE WITH SERGIO GARCIA

Garcia updated us on his latest chats with the 2025 European Ryder Cup captain and the DP World Tour, claiming concessions will need to be made all round if he is to come back to the former European Tour circuit next season.

"If things improve a little bit with the European Tour and the things that they ask for and the things that we are asking for get close, the decision is 99 per cent," Garcia told GolfMagic on a potential return to the DP World Tour and European Ryder Cup team.

"But if they don't make things a tiny bit easier, I'm giving up some things, but they also need to give up a few things, and if we can find that middle ground then you will see me playing a handful of European Tour events.

"If not, then it will be a little bit tougher, but hopefully that won't be the case."

We then asked Garcia whether he would be confident of earning a place in Donald's team, if he does decide to rejoin the DP World Tour.

Garcia knows with LIV Golf remaining shut out of receiving OWGR points that he would more than likely be reliant on one of Donald's six picks.

"If the selection was right now I would say I would have a good chance, if things were all good with the European Tour and stuff like that," said Garcia.

"But there is a long way to go until the selection process, so I just need to keep playing well, continue to show good form.

"Everybody knows what I can bring to the team aside from my game, I have made that clear in my 10 previous Ryder Cups.

"There is still a way to go but the only thing I can do is keep playing well, keep enjoying what I'm doing and give myself the best options so I can go and help the European team, which is what I love to do the most."

Obviously Garcia is not yet eligible to play in or captain a future European Ryder Cup side since he is no longer a DP World Tour member.

But the story will be very different should the Spaniard decide to sort out his 'outstanding sanctions' by deadline day on 17 November.

Garcia wants to play, not captain Ryder Cup side

We then asked Garcia whether he had dared to dream about one day emulating Donald and being a European Ryder Cup captain himself.

"To be honest I haven't thought about it that much but it has crossed my mind every now and then," said Garcia.

"I feel like my game is still good enough to play in future Ryder Cups. I think if you start thinking that way then you've sort of given up on the possibility of being a player.

"Being a captain is amazing, I'm sure, but there is nothing quite like being a Ryder Cup player. I am still in that frame of mind, so until that changes I don't want to really think about being a captain just yet, if that makes sense."

With that chain of thought, it was therefore something of a shock to him that Keegan Bradley decided to accept the U.S. Ryder Cup position for Bethpage Black in New York next September.

"Yeah it was a surprise," said Garcia.

"But Keegan has played in a few Ryder Cups and a few Presidents Cups so he's got good experience there.

"I'm sure he's going to do the best job he can, and I hope he does a great job and finishes second!"

Related:

Sergio Garcia was speaking exclusively to GolfMagic ahead of FORE Kids ATX, a two-day golf charity event founded by himself and his wife, Angela Garcia.

Since its inception in 2022, FORE Kids ATX has raised more than $5m for organizations that improve the lives, programs and healthcare services for children and families in Texas.

For more information, please visit the FORE Kids ATX website here.