Sergio Garcia mulling DP World Tour U-turn to play in Ryder Cup - Luke Donald

Sergio Garcia is considering rejoining the DP World Tour in order to be eligible for next year's Ryder Cup, according to Europe captain Luke Donald.

Garcia resigned his membership in May 2023 after an arbitration panel found in favour of the DP World Tour and ratified its right to fine and suspend players who competed in LIV Golf events without permission.

A day later, the DP World Tour then revealed that Garcia was the only one of 17 players initially sanctioned not to have paid his £100,000 fine, "nor has he given any indication that he intends to."

Garcia was also reported to have reacted furiously in the locker room at the BMW International in Munich when the sanctions were initially handed down, leading witness Robert MacIntyre to write on social media he had lost respect for the Masters champion.

Speaking at an event in New York to mark less than a year to go to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage, Donald said: "He (Garcia) resigned his membership a couple of years ago but we have had some chats.

"He’s considering rejoining; he’d have to follow all the rules and regulations like everyone else and if he does that he will be eligible to partake in the Ryder Cup."

Asked if Garcia, who is the leading points scorer in the Ryder Cup and partnered Donald on several occasions, was serious about rejoining the Tour for the 2025 season, Donald added: "Yeah, we chatted on the phone a couple of weeks ago.

"He’s certainly very interested in doing that. He understands everything that’s involved and again, the decision has to go to him whether he’s prepared to do all that.

"But certainly we’ve had that discussion."

Garcia would have to reapply for membership and then clear what are understood by the PA news agency to be "substantial" sanctions