The messy backdrop to the Ryder Cup scene has been further demonstrated by the inability of Luke Donald, the newly appointed European captain, to clarify whether LIV rebels will be allowed to feature in Rome next September. The Englishman, 44, was installed by Ryder Cup Europe after Henrik Stenson was in effect sacked from the role for being coaxed by the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV tour.
Stenson’s victory at Bedminster on Sunday raised the prospect that he could feature again for Europe against the US as a player. Sergio García has said he will hold off from resigning from the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, until the Ryder Cup situation is clarified. Key to that is a legal battle over whether LIV golfers can retain European status; until that is resolved, Donald finds himself in an invidious position.
