ROME — It has been greater than 1 / 4 century since Sergio Garcia wasn’t a part of Europe’s Ryder Cup crew.
The energetic Spaniard, who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, knew what was coming, although, when captain Luke Donald referred to as just lately to let him know that he would not be participating on this yr’s occasion.
Not as one among Europe’s 12 gamers. Nor as one among Donald’s 5 vice captains.
“We have chatted a little bit bit and he actually needs the crew all the very best. It is completely different for me (too),” Donald stated Monday after his total crew practiced on the Marco Simone membership outdoors Rome that can host the Ryder Cup from Sept. 29-Oct 1.
“Will probably be the primary Ryder Cup I have been concerned with out Sergio. However he understands the function and he was greater than supportive after I talked to him only a few weeks in the past.”
Garcia performed in 10 Ryder Cups from 1999 to 2021 and holds the Ryder Cup document for many factors at 28.5, going 3-1 in his final look at Whistling Straits two years in the past. Garcia did not play within the 2010 Ryder Cup when he took a break following a droop. However he was named as a vice captain for the 2010 occasion.
With Europe having been routed by the USA in 2021, Donald picked three rookies for his crew in Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka and Nicolai Hojgaard.
The 23-year-old Aberg has been a professional for simply three months however the former No. 1 newbie gained the European Masters a day earlier than Donald introduced his crew.
“We have identified about Ludvig for a very long time,” Donald stated. “He clearly got here out to the skilled circuit and picked it up fairly rapidly, some very sturdy finishes. … He is an amazing driver of the golf ball, which is mostly a energy round Marco Simone and he is already becoming in very nicely with the crew.”
One other sizzling participant is Viktor Hovland, who won the BMW Championship and FedEx Cup title final month.
“Extraordinarily large wins,” Donald stated. “We’ve got 4 of the final six FedEx Cup winners on our crew. So these are positives that I will be speaking to the fellows about and maintain pumping them up. However we cannot take the U.S. flippantly. They seem to be a very sturdy crew and we’re nonetheless hurting from two years in the past.”
Between No. 2 Rory McIlroy, No. 3 Jon Rahm and No. 4 Hovland, Europe has three of the highest 4 gamers on the planet rankings.
“We’ve got 12 very popular gamers, to be sincere,” Donald stated. “I am very proud of my 12.”
Three gamers — Rahm, Hovland and Straka — arrived early on Sunday earlier than the two-day coaching camp to go to the Colosseum.
“They stated,” Donald recounted, “it was wonderful.”
