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Garcia, Poulter and Westwood Ineligible for Ryder Cup
Trio quit DP World Tour
The trio, along with Richard Bland, had been sanctioned for breaking tour rules after joining breakaway tour LIV Golf.
They had been stalwarts of Europe’s Ryder Cup squad for the best part of three decades but last summer, along with a host of other huge names, decided to join the LIV Golf series.
The players say they have "no option" given punishments being imposed after they joined the Saudi Arabia-funded tour.
All four are now be unable to play for Europe against the United States in Rome this year.
Garcia remains Europe's all-time record points scorer while Westwood had played in a record 11 matches for Europe.
World number one and current masters champion Jon Rahm has made no secret of his desire to partner Garcia in this year's event after both Spaniards combined successfully when Europe lost at Whistling Straits two years ago. The following statement was released by the DP World Tour on Wednesday the 3rd of May;
"The DP World Tour today confirmed it has received membership resignations from Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood who were sanctioned for serious breaches of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation committed last June.
The DP World Tour would like to take this opportunity to thank the four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular to Sergio, Ian and Lee for the significant part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years.
Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, area consequence of their own choices.
As we have consistently maintained throughout the past year, the Tour has a responsibility to its entire membership to administer the member regulations which each player signs up to. These regulations are in place to protect the collective interests of all DP World Tour members.
The independent panel appointed by Sport Resolutions recognised this, determining that our Conflicting Tournament Regulation and its application in the circumstances did not go beyond what was necessary and proportionate to the Tour’s continued operation as a professional golf tour and that we have a legitimate interest in protecting the rights of our full membership by enforcing it."
