Sergio Garcia quits LIV Golf to rejoin DP World Tour and target Ryder Cup return
Sergio Garcia confirmed on 29 October 2026 that he has left LIV Golf and will play on the Europe-based DP World Tour in 2027 as he aims to return to Europe’s Ryder Cup team. The 46-year-old Spaniard announced the move in a social media statement and said he was keeping his options open for a return to the PGA Tour.
Garcia won two individual titles in five seasons with LIV Golf and served as captain of the Fireballs GC team. He claimed a combined 27 titles on the American and European circuits between 1999 and 2020, including the 2017 Masters, which took him 74 events to win. Garcia joined LIV in June 2022 after the breakaway circuit launched as a Saudi Arabia-backed project but will not be part of its second phase.
In his social media statement Garcia said: "This tour has been a huge part of my career from the beginning and I'm proud to call it home again," and the 46-year-old added: "I'm also keeping my options open for a return to the PGA Tour." He also wrote that "the most exciting part for me is strengthening personal relationships, both new and old."
The future of LIV has been unsettled after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing in April — having invested more than $5bn (£3.8bn) — and the league filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States last month. The organisation has secured a possible $300m (£224m) in financing to try to move forward with 'LIV 2.0', but only a handful of players have so far committed to the proposed competition in 2027.
Garcia was sanctioned by the DP World Tour for breaking its rules when he defected to LIV, which made him ineligible for the 2023 Ryder Cup, and he had to settle outstanding fines reported to be more than £1m to regain eligibility for 2025, although he was not selected. After contributing to six European wins across 10 Ryder Cup appearances, he said: "Another goal is to make that Ryder Cup team, and to be an asset to the guys in whatever capacity that may be." According to current tour rules, while he is eligible to play again he cannot serve as a future captain or vice-captain.
The decision may complicate Garcia's relationship with the PGA Tour after comments he made just before joining LIV: "I can't wait to leave this tour. A couple more weeks and I won't have to deal with you any more." He has remained eligible for the majors and, following an incident at this year's Masters in which he apologised after slamming his driver into the Augusta turf and snapping the club head when it struck a nearby cooler, he said: "There are some great tournaments around the world to play before Augusta next April, and I can't wait to get back to the Masters. "I left Augusta last year disappointed with myself and my actions, and I'm ready to show what I've learned and where I am mentally. "Augusta has given me some of the greatest moments of my life, and I'd love nothing more than to chase another green jacket at such a special place."
Garcia follows Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter, Tyrrell Hatton and Graeme McDowell in announcing departures from LIV. His confirmed plan to play on the DP World Tour in 2027 dovetails with his stated aim to be involved in Europe's Ryder Cup camp at Ireland's Adare Manor next year, either as a player or in a supporting role, while LIV attempts to reorganise ahead of its proposed 2027 restart.