European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald played the proper Ryder Cup straight bat, politely side-stepping any questions relating to Sergio Garcia being in anyway involved in this week’s 44th hosting of the Ryder Cup.
We know how fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm felt as he went to bat for Garcia, declaring it was ‘stupid’ not pick someone with Garcia’s Ryder Cup record-setting credentials to be in Donald’s Marco Simone team.
More recently, we read stories of Garcia’s supposed bid to pay any outstanding fines in a late move to possibly earn a ‘wildcard’ pick and so Donald was always going to be asked about Garcia when he and rival USA captain Zach Johnson hosted a press conference on Monday on their arrival at the host Marco Simone course.
But it was Donald very much at his captaincy best playing the straight DP World Tour bat.
“Obviously we know the situation with Sergio,” said Donald. “He resigned his situation five months ago, and once that happened, he was ineligible for me to even consider him.
“I know also there was some stories about him trying to pay off some fines and stuff. Obviously we know what the DP World Tour rules are, and once you resign, can you not reapply for membership until the following year.
“Right now I’m just concentrating on my 12 guys that I have this week. My sole focus is dealing with those guys over the next six days and giving them the best opportunity for success.”
So, that’s it and we’ll hear no more mention of Garcia this week in Rome.
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