Sergio Garcia addresses failed Ryder Cup bid as LIV Golf rebel looks to PAY his way into team

Sergio Garcia has admitted he made a late attempt to force his way into Europe's Ryder Cup team - after offering to pay for a place.

But the LIV Golf rebel was stonewalled by PGA European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley after he offered to to rejoin the DP World Tour and pay up his £700,000 fines for leaving the tournament. Garcia is one of the legends of the Ryder Cup having won more points than any other European player, however, he will not be in the side facing America at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome next week.

After opting to join the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway league in 2022, Garcia lost his DP World Tour membership, which is a requirement for any player to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup. However, positions have softened in recent months between the PGA Tour and LIV's backers.

The 2017 Masters champion admitted he saw an opportunity to join the Ryder Cup with tensions easing as he but was knocked back. Garcia told the i: "I called and asked him about the possibility of me being a member of the Tour again.

“I knew I had to be a member to have any possibility of being a part of the European team in Rome. That’s what I wanted, if I paid all my fines and played the minimum number of tournaments required. I was willing to do both, though it would not be ideal because I would have had to play 10 out of 11 or 12 weeks (before the end of the season)."