Sergio Garcia sends Ryder Cup message to captain Luke Donald with LIV Hong Kong victory

HONG KONG – Spanish veteran Sergio Garcia said he was hoping for a place in the Ryder Cup after shooting a sparkling seven-under 63 on March 9 to win LIV Golf Hong Kong by three strokes in front of huge crowds.

The 45-year-old missed the last edition in 2023 after joining the breakaway Saudi-backed circuit but has since made his peace with the DP World Tour, which is allowing LIV players back if they pay their fines.

He is outside the world’s top 400 as LIV events do not carry ranking points, so will have to rely on being one of European captain Luke Donald’s picks, if he is to tee up against the United States at Bethpage Black in September.

“I think he’s watching,” Garcia said of Donald, after a flawless tournament at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, where he shot rounds of 65, 64 and 63 to finish at 18-under 192 on the par-70 championship course.

“We’ve been in touch, so I know that he’s keeping an eye.”

Garcia’s Ryder Cup record is unrivalled, having earned 28.5 points – more than anyone in the event’s history – in over 10 appearances for Team Europe.

“The only thing I can do is keep playing good golf,” he said.

“I just want to help the European team, like I’ve tried to do every single time I’ve been a member of that team.

“Hopefully, he will think I’m good enough for it.”

The Spaniard began the day in a three-way tie for the lead at 11 under, alongside England’s Paul Casey and the big-hitting American Peter Uihlein.

The 2017 Masters champion got his round rolling with a sumptuous 45-foot putt for eagle at the par-five third.

He then opened up a four-shot cushion on a chasing pack brimming with Major winners as he went on a stunning run of four birdies in a row from the eighth.

He was never threatened from there and added a final birdie at the 16th.

It was his second individual LIV title after he won at his favourite course, Valderrama in Spain, in 2024.

Garcia’s last win on the PGA Tour was at the Sanderson Farms Championship almost five years ago.

He will go to Augusta National next month to play in his landmark 100th Major at the Masters.

“Super excited about it. It’s a milestone that not a lot of people get to achieve, so I’m super proud, super happy, and I can’t wait to go there and just enjoy it,” said Garcia, who had a double celebration on March 9 as his Fireballs took the LIV team title in Hong Kong.

“Whatever happens happens, but I’m just going to try to enjoy the week as much as possible and then hopefully my game will show up.”

Second was South Africa’s Dean Burmester, who shot the round of the day, an eight-under 62, but still finished three strokes adrift of Garcia.

The oldest player in the field, 54-year-old American Phil Mickelson, showed he could still compete with the best as he rolled back the years to finish third on 196 after a final-round 64.

He credited a new strategy for his return to form.

“I’ve had to find a different way to play this game to compete at this level, and in the off-season I made some adjustments,” the six-time Major winner said.

“I’m not going to overpower golf courses. I can shoot low scores another way. I’ve been figuring that out, and that’s been a fun challenge for me.”

Over on the PGA Tour, Collin Morikawa wanted to make the challenges associated with playing at Bay Hill Club and Lodge stress-free, and he would need to do that for one more day.

The American shot a five-under 67 on March 8 to move into the lead at 10-under 206 after three rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.

“For the most part, it was fairly stress-free,” he said.

“I thought I did a really good job on the greens, just kind of not lagging it, but just hitting good pace on the putts.”

He held a one-stroke edge over compatriot Russell Henley (67) going into the final round on March 9, which ended after press time. AFP, REUTERS