Jon Rahm drops Ryder Cup bombshell, says excluding Sergio Garcia was 'stupid'
Europe's top golfer Jon Rahm believes it was wrong to exclude their best performing Ryder Cup player from this year's event due to his association with LIV Golf.
Garcia wasn't selected for the European team at the upcoming Ryder Cup, but Rahm still holds out hope that Garcia can be there as a vice captain to support the side.
None of the DP World Tour players who made the switch to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series made Luke Donald's team but Rahm feels totally dispensing with the most successful player in Ryder Cup history was not just a mistake, but a "stupid" one at that.
Garcia's Ryder Cup record of 25 wins, 13 losses and seven halves in his career is the best individual record in the history of the competition, followed by Europe's Nick Faldo (23 victories) and the United States' Arnold Palmer (22).
"I think it would be really stupid of anybody not to lean on Sergio Garcia's experience in the Ryder Cup," Rahm said earlier this week while talking to the press ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
"I mean, he is the best player Europe has ever had, won the most points and has shown it time and time again. If he were able to be a vice captain, I absolutely would lean on him. Same as we are going to lean on (Jose Maria Olazabal) this coming Ryder Cup, right."
Rahm acknowledged that getting exiled players like Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and others back into the Ryder Cup would be difficult as some of them gave up their DP World Tour status, but hopes a resolution can be found now that a deal has been struck between the traditional tours and LIV Golf.
"When it comes to the game and all those players being able to be back, it's been a difficult time. Obviously things have changed a little bit. I wouldn't know how to answer because we are going to have to see if it's possible or not, right?" he said.
"I would like to see it, but unfortunately we've seen some of those players give up their (DP World) Tour status where that's no longer a possibility. So I would like to see it but we don't know what the future holds, right? I think with this agreement or this possible union between the PGA Tour, DP World and PIF might change things a little bit."
The Ryder Cup tees off on September 29 at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio, Italy.
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