Europe's former Ryder Cup Captain names the top stars he thinks Luke Donald should fight for
The tee-off for the 2025 Ryder Cup is still 10 months away, but the integration of the teams is already causing concern for both American and European fans. One of Europe's legendary former players and captains, Bernard Gallacher, has gone so far as to name three players who he thinks should not be missing from the team.
Gallacher's suggestion is not an easy one to implement, as his three nominees are currently playing in LIV Golf. They are Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Sergio Garcia, without whom Gallacher believes Europe cannot win the event.
Gallacher said Team Europe captain Luke Donald should "find a way" to get Rahm, Hatton and Garcia into the team. He was quoted as saying (via The Mirror):
"He [Donald] needs to find a way with these guys playing on the LIV tour. You have Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Sergio Garcia. I don’t think he can win the Ryder Cup without Rahm, Sergio and Hatton. They are three big players."
Hatton and Rahm were part of the European team that won the 2023 edition under Donald's leadership. Garcia, meanwhile, has been out of the event since 2021 and will be 45 when it is played at Bethpage Black next September.
However, Garcia is coming off his best season in LIV Golf with one win and six top 10s in 2024. This has not gone unnoticed by Gallacher, who claimed that Garcia is capable of "raising his game" whenever the Ryder Cup comes around. He said:
"He [Garcia] would be [a good addition]. The minute the Ryder Cup is around he stands up and raises his game. He was an inspiration at Le National in France [2018], and they ran out big winners. Thomas Bjorn puts a lot of that down to Sergio."
Bernard Gallacher played in eight editions of the biennial event, with a tie (1969) as his best result. He also captained the team in three editions, notching one victory (1995).
Are LIV players eligible to play in the Ryder Cup?
DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings told the BBC last April that any player who meets the established rules can play in the Ryder Cup and represent Europe. This opened the door for LIV players, but not without challenges.
The basic rule is that players must be members of the DP World Tour. Players who leave for LIV Golf are not automatically banned from the European circuit but they are subject to sanctions and suspensions for missing their obligations to the tour. This means they may eventually lose their respective cards.
Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm have appealed the fines and suspensions imposed, giving them the right to play on the DP World Tour pending the outcome of their appeals. Both have played the minimum four tournaments required to maintain their membership and be eligible to join the team in 2025.
In the case of Garcia, it was announced a few days ago that he has paid his fines and will be eligible to play on the DP World Tour in the 2025 season.