The latest sign of a thaw in relations between the golf establishment and the LIV rebels is expected on Wednesday, with the appointment of Tyrrell Hatton to the European Ryder Cup team preparation event in Abu Dhabi. Sergio García, however, will miss out despite paying a fine of around £1million to join the DP World Tour.
The Team Cup, which takes place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in January, brings together 10 players per team as Continental Europe takes on Great Britain and Ireland. Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose will captain the latest edition of the competition, seen by European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald as a way to integrate and evaluate players. He has previously described the Middle East tournament as a “tryout” for the Ryder Cup.
Hatton competed in the 2018, 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cups. However, his future in the biennial event became questionable following his move to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour in January this year. Hatton appealed sanctions imposed on him by the formerly European DP World Tour, which allowed him to participate in end-of-season tournaments and retain his membership. Hatton quickly returned to the spotlight; he was heavily criticized for breaking a club during the weekend’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. However, the 33-year-old’s form has also pushed him to third place in the European Ryder Cup rankings.
The Englishman’s desire to stay in the Ryder Cup – and Donald’s desire to have it – will be underlined by a Team Cup appearance. Hatton competed in that event, and then the Hero Cup, as a precursor to Europe’s defeat by the United States last year. Hatton will join Tommy Fleetwood on the GB&I side of Rose. Mainland Europe will likely include Danish twins Højgaard, Rasmus and Nicolai.
García does not have the possibility of returning to the team environment so quickly. Although the Spaniard has settled his fines, it is understood that the level of suspension he now faces from the DP World Tour will take him beyond the Team Cup and, of course, the Dubai Desert Classic that follows. It will be February at the earliest before García returns to the DP World Tour.