LONDON — Sergio Garcia has been cleared to terminate his LIV Golf contract following a successful court order, leaving the Spaniard free to consider all options for 2027 and beyond. Garcia was allowed out of his deal after LIV's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, as the league seeks a 'LIV 2.0' schedule featuring 10 events, a $300m backing from BC Partners and the introduction of player equity. Which players will compete on LIV 2.0 remains unknown, but one of them likely will not be Garcia, who has captained Fireballs GC since the tour's first event at the Centurion Club in June 2022.
The 2017 Masters champion and Ryder Cup all-time points scorer with 28.5 points filed the motion to terminate his LIV contract last week due to confusion preventing him from trying to either join another tour or attract business deals while third parties are unclear if he is a free agent. Court documents stated the uncertainty was damaging for a professional athlete and could prevent him from getting into tournaments, returning to tours such as the DP World Tour and also put off sponsors. While there is no guarantee he will not play LIV 2.0, the filing suggests he is at the very least weighing up his options.
A full-time return to the DP World Tour appears the most likely scenario. Garcia is currently not a full-time member after his membership lapsed, but he will almost certainly rejoin in 2027 if he does not wish to be part of LIV 2.0, with the window to apply opening in November following the DP World Tour Championship. The DP World Tour are set to continue fining and sanctioning members for playing in LIV events next year, so a dual LIV-DP World Tour schedule does not appear viable. He has played four times on the circuit this season under tournament invites, teeing it up in Bahrain, Germany for the BMW International Open, Switzerland at the Omega European Masters and then the Irish Open, and makes his fifth start this week on home soil in the Open de Espana. He may supplement a European schedule with select Asian Tour events where he can command appearance fees, having claimed five victories in Asia in Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.
If Garcia proceeds without LIV Golf it opens the door for a spectacular Ryder Cup return. He has not played for Europe since Whistling Straits in 2021, when he and Jon Rahm won all three of their doubles matches together, going 3/3 in his 10th appearance. Following his move to LIV, Garcia fell out of favour with Ryder Cup Europe, but opting to play elsewhere gives him a fighting chance. He has rekindled his relationship with Rory McIlroy, is very close with Rahm and has historically had a friendship with Luke Donald, whom he went 4/4 with in foursomes across the 2004 and 2006 Ryder Cups. Garcia will be 47 next September and one last strong season — requiring a tournament win and strong performances in the Majors — could see him make Donald's 12.
A PGA Tour return remains the least likely route. Brian Rolapp will not entertain conversations with LIV golfers keen to return to the PGA Tour until they can prove they are no longer under contract, which now applies to Garcia. The Spaniard did not have the best exit in 2022, when he was heard saying "I can't wait to leave this tour. A couple more weeks and I won't have to deal with you [the referee] anymore" during a ruling at the Wells Fargo Championship, which remains his final start on the US circuit. Whether a return is possible remains to be seen, with LIV players accruing at least a 12-month suspension from their last tournament start on the team circuit, although as seen with Brooks Koepka's return this year, deals and concessions can be made. Garcia would be able to cash in his career money exemption, which would entitle him to one full season of membership, sitting 20th on the PGA Tour's career earnings list with $55m. The development follows LIV Golf's potential $300m investment for the 2027 season as the league reshapes for LIV 2.0.