Westwood, Poulter and Garcia signal the end of their Ryder Cup careers with resignations

Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia all quit the DP World Tour, seemingly ending their Ryder Cup careers in the process.

The trio have been stalwarts of the European Ryder Cup team for the better part of three decades, but decided last summer to join the LIV Golf series.

A host of other big names were lured into the Saudi-backed spin-off company with multi-million dollar deals, huge prize pools and no-cut events.

It turned out to be the catalyst for months of disputes and legal battles, and despite Westwood, Poulter and Garcia pledging their allegiance to LIV Golf long ago, only now have they handed in their resignation from the DP World Tour in the latest chapter of the civil war of the sport.

England’s Richard Bland has also resigned from the DP World Tour, but the confirmation of the retirement of Westwood, Poulter and Garcia is the final nail in the coffin of their illustrious Ryder Cup careers: as the rules stand, they can never be captain or vice. . Neither do captains.

Westwood remains the record holder for appearances in Europe with 11 appearances and Garcia the competition’s all-time leading points scorer, while the biennial event has always brought out the best in Poulter, but now they will definitely not be involved in the latest. September delivery in Rome.

“The DP World Tour confirmed today that it has received membership resignations from Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood, who were all suspended for serious breaches of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulations committed last June,” the DP World Tour reads. a statement.

“The DP World Tour would like to take this opportunity to thank all four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular Sergio, Ian and Lee for the important role they have played in Europe’s success at the Ryder Cup for many years. years.

“However, their resignations, along with the sanctions imposed on them, are a consequence of their own choices.

“As we have consistently maintained throughout the past year, the Tour has a responsibility to all of its members to administer the member regulations to which each player subscribes. These regulations are in place to protect the collective interests of all members of the DP World Tour.

“The independent panel appointed by Sport Resolutions recognized this, finding that our Conflicting Tournament Regulation and its application in the circumstances did not go beyond what was necessary and proportionate for the continued operation of the Tour as a professional golf tour and that we have a legitimate interest in protecting the rights of all our members by enforcing them.

“A further update on other sanctioned members will be provided on Thursday.”

Westwood, Poulter, Garcia and Bland all received DP World Tour penalties for breaking the rules by appearing at the opening event of the LIV Golf Series at Hemel Hempstead last year without permission.