McGinley: Poulter and Westwood Will Rue Ryder Cup Captaincy Cost of LIV Moves

Paul McGinley believes two of Europe's most decorated Ryder Cup players will come to regret the price of their moves to LIV Golf. The former Ryder Cup captain said Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, who left for the breakaway league in 2022, appear to be permanently excluded from captaining Europe, despite combining for 40 points for the continent across their playing careers. McGinley, speaking to The Times, described the exclusion as a justified consequence of what he called the short-sightedness of the English pair and other European golfers who joined LIV. He said he understands why they went, and might have done the same in their position, but argued that being critical of the DP World Tour as they departed was the real problem. Both men are now set to return to the DP World Tour as the breakaway league's future is reshaped, but McGinley argued that a playing comeback cannot restore the leadership opportunity they gave up. He said he sees no enthusiasm from the players' committee to lift the regulation that excludes them, so in that sense the boat has sailed. His comments arrive alongside other high-profile returns to the DP World Tour, with Sergio Garcia confirming he will play the European circuit next year, and former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen also heading back.