Leaving LIV won't make Poulter or Garcia eligible to captain Europe at the Ryder Cup

Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell are done with LIV Golf, but that does not put them back in line to lead Europe. Today's Golfer's Ben Parsons reported Wednesday that the DP World Tour is not expected to change, any time soon, the rule that keeps them and other LIV veterans out of Ryder Cup captain and vice-captain jobs.

The rule

The DP World Tour added the regulation in January 2017, years before LIV existed. As quoted by Today's Golfer, it says: "Players cannot be a European Ryder Cup captain or a vice-captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfil their minimum event obligation in any season."

The European veterans who went to LIV gave up their tour memberships for at least one season after joining. Some made that call because of the fines and bans for playing conflicting LIV events, penalties a sports arbitration panel upheld in 2023. Today's Golfer names Sergio Garcia, Poulter, Lee Westwood and McDowell as the players the rule catches.

The tour has said this before. In August a DP World Tour spokesperson told Golf Monthly that Poulter and Westwood, who had paid their fines, still could not lead the team: "Under our current regulations, even if they were to rejoin as members, neither can serve as a Captain or Vice Captain in the Ryder Cup."

Who it affects

Poulter left LIV on October 23, and McDowell followed on October 26. Both were seen as future captains before they joined LIV. Today's Golfer says both could get their DP World Tour cards back next season through the Legends category, but the Ryder Cup would stay closed to them.

Garcia, Europe's all-time leading points scorer, has said he will return to the DP World Tour next season. He also said last month that he told captain Luke Donald he would help "as a vice-captain or however else they might need me." Under the current rule, he can only get there as a player. Today's Golfer says Westwood has not announced his own plans.

Adare Manor

Donald only got the captaincy because Henrik Stenson was removed after he signed with LIV. He is now picking his assistants for the 2027 match at Adare Manor in Ireland, and Today's Golfer says he will not have the returning veterans to choose from. The outlet lists Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari and Rory McIlroy as the next names in line for the captaincy.

What to watch

Any change would have to come from the DP World Tour's rulebook, and nothing so far suggests one is coming. Watch Donald's vice-captain announcements for Adare Manor. Also watch whether Poulter and McDowell sign up for 2027 DP World Tour status. That would get them back to playing in Europe, even though captaincy stays off the table.