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 known as just lately to let him know that he would not be participating on this yr’s occasion.
Not as certainly one of Europe’s 12 gamers. Nor as certainly one of Donald’s 5 vice captains.
“We have chatted somewhat bit and he definitely needs the crew all one of the best. It is totally different for me (too),” Donald mentioned Monday after his whole 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 once I talked to him just some 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 hunch. However he was named as a vice captain for the 2010 occasion.
With Europe having been routed by america 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 novice received the European Masters a day earlier than Donald introduced his crew.
“We have recognized about Ludvig for a very long time,” Donald mentioned. “He clearly got here out to the skilled circuit and picked it up fairly rapidly, some very sturdy finishes. … He is an incredible driver of the golf ball, which can be a power round Marco Simone and he is already becoming in very effectively with the crew.”
One other sizzling participant is Viktor Hovland, who received the BMW Championship and FedEx Cup title final month.
“Extraordinarily huge wins,” Donald mentioned. “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 blokes about and hold pumping them up. However we cannot take the U.S. frivolously. They are 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 earth rankings.
“We’ve got 12 extremely popular gamers, to be trustworthy,” Donald mentioned. “I am very pleased with 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 mentioned,” Donald recounted, “it was superb.”
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