Sergio Garcia has called time on his record Ryder Cup career after leaving the DP World Tour with a blast at his former captain Thomas Bjorn.
The all-time Ryder Cup record points scorer says he won’t be taking part in next year’s event after the fall-out from his bitter defection to LIV continues. The lucrative Saudi-backed invitational series is also close to securing new big-names to join up.
Australian Adam Scott, 42, is expected to be announced as a LIV player imminently. Even Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson, 46, has been persistently linked with a switch - possibly as soon as this week.
Meanwhile Japanese ace and world No.14 Hideki Matsuyama is considering his options and is set to make a decision after next month’s PGA Tour FedEx St. Jude Championship at Memphis, which has a £12.6million purse.
Spaniard Garcia, 42, admitted: “I am clear about what I am going to do with the European Tour, probably leave it. I want to play where they want me, I like to feel loved and honestly on the European Tour I don't feel loved now.
“When Thomas Bjorn comes to the BMW Championship and tells us that here 'we don't want any of you and all the players say so' , well, I'm already old enough not to be putting up with nonsense like that.
"There are comments that do not make you feel good. I have given more than half of my life to the European Tour and I was going to continue on the European Tour.
“I feel sorry for the Ryder Cup, my resignation is not official, but I'm going to make it effective. I have what I have and I am very happy with it and I want to enjoy it to the fullest. I will play less, I will be more at home.”
Garcia, the 2017 Masters champ, finished on two-under total at St Andrews after a one-over-par 73 after a double bogey six on the Road Hole.
Matsuyama, 30, who won in Augusta at 2021, yesterday parked uncertainty over his future to shoot a five-under 67 to finish on a two-under total.