Sergio Garcia's Ryder Cup dream still alive after paying £1million fine but there’s one big catch

Sergio Garcia has revealed he will have to be pitch perfect to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup after coughing up a £1million fine before he serves a 26-tournament suspension.

Garcia is a long shot to make Luke Donald's side off tour points alone as the LIV star returns to the DP World Tour 33 months on from his controversial banishment after signing up for the rival promotion. The former Masters champions concedes he will need to be in the form of his life to earn a place at Bethpage Black next year.

The 44-year-old is itching to put a tumultuous period behind him and return to former glories as he insists his famed competitive streak remains unbreakable. Garcia will not make his return to the DP World Tour till the first week of July and the BMW International Open in Munich but has told his old pal Donald he wants in on the action.

He said: “I’ve paid the fine and happy to now move and see what happens come September. It is something that has weighed on my mind while Angela (wife) and I have discussed the situation often, so it’s something that’s now been addressed and we move on. At least now I have the possibility to qualify automatically for Luke’s team and at the same time I have been fortunate enough to have represented Europe many times.

“It’s not like I’ve only just played one, as I've been proud to wear the European Team colours often. So, it is definitely good for me to be now in a position where I have a chance of qualifying but then I am still going to play well enough that Luke may consider me for his team”.

Garcia resigned his DP World Tour membership in May 2023 after the UK Government backed Sports Resolution board found in favour of the DP World Tour and ratified its right to fine and ban