LIV Golf rebel Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra has revealed he has spoken with European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. It remains unknown as to whether players who have made the move to LIV will be able to compete at the Ryder Cup next September.
A number of players who featured in the 2021 event have made the controversial move in recent months. Two members of the USA team that secured the biggest victory in the event's modern history in Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have put their Ryder Cup futures on the line having joined the Saudi-backed series.
It is Team Europe who have arguably been hit the hardest though, with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey all now LIV members, as well as initial captain Henrik Stenson who was sacked from his role following his switch this summer.
Poulter and co could no doubt prove to be big omissions from Team Europe if they are snubbed due to their experience and impressive records. But it is one of Europe's youngest stars who has his eyes on competing in blue and gold despite his LIV allegiances.
Lopez-Chacarra shot to fame last month, after winning £3.3 million and his first ever professional title at the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok. Known as one of European golf's hottest prospects, the Spaniard opted to turn professional in order to join the Saudi-backed circuit.
This to many seemed like a ludicrous decision to make at such a young age, with Lopez-Chacarra seemingly exchanging the chance to compete on the DP World and PGA Tours, as well as being a future Ryder Cup player, for the Saudi riches. The 22-year-old though is still hopeful he can enjoy a long and successful career at the top of the game, and revealed he had already received contact from captain Donald.
In an interview with Marca , he said: "Luke Donald sent me a couple of messages and it is always an honour that someone like him, who is the captain of the Ryder Cup, thinks of you and follows you. I have always wanted to play the Ryder cup and it is one of my long-term goals.
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"I have to keep working and wait for everything to return to normal.” Lopez-Chacarra is not the only one remaining hopeful of competing for Europe in the future despite having LIV Golf membership. European legend Poulter has enjoyed many a memory whilst turning out for his continent in the famous event, and despite reports he is confident he will be able to add to his glittering Ryder Cup CV in Rome.
Speaking at last month's LIV Golf finale in Miami, he said: "We can still qualify for the team as far as I’m aware. Unless we’ve been told we can’t qualify, then I’m still ready to play as much as I possibly can and try and make that team... I’ve always wanted to play Ryder Cups and have played with as much passion as anyone else that I’ve ever seen play a Ryder Cup."
