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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Parsons

Matt Fitzpatrick hopes LIV Golf rebel Sergio Garcia is handed Ryder Cup reprieve

Matt Fitzpatrick would welcome the inclusion of LIV Golf rebels in Europe's Ryder Cup team - claiming he would share a room with Sergio Garcia to avoid any hostilities.

US Open champion Fitzpatrick will be one of Europe's star players as they aim to reclaim the Ryder Cup in Rome next September after the 2021 humiliation at Whistling Straights.

But preparations for the biennial joust against the USA have descended into chaos and confusion amidst the disruptive emergence of the contentious LIV venture. Henrik Stenson has relinquished Ryder Cup captaincy to join Greg Norman's Saudi-funded series, while Europe veterans Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were among the big early names to join the circuit.

Garcia, in particular, has become a maligned figure for his decision to risk playing in Ryder Cups to join LIV and his inflammatory comments thereafter - despite being Europe's all-time top points scorer. The Spaniard is facing exile from the famous duel after failing to play in enough events in the 2022 campaign, meaning he is unable to qualify for Luke Donald's team.

And he was one of the former European teammates condemned by world no.1 Rory McIlroy, who has claimed he has felt betrayed by the LIV rebels.

But Fitzpatrick - yet to win a point in two Ryder Cups - is open to a Garcia reprieve and is not concerned about how fractured relationships from golf's civil war could affect team harmony at the Marco Simone course next year.

"It might be some players from other places in the world," Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports. "I think there definitely are a few personal relationships that have been dented by this. I'm not bothered, I just want to win, and I'm sure those boys do too."

He added: "Sergio would be the one that would stand out for me, particularly. I don't know the details of [his relationship with McIlroy]. I'm happy to share a room with him, if that's going to be the case, I can corner him off for everyone else."

Stenson was dramatically stripped of the European captaincy in July - paving the way for Englishman Donald to take on a role with unprecedented uncertainty.

McIlroy claimed earlier this year he felt betrayed by his Ryder Cup teammates (Phil Harris)

And it is still doubtful whether Donald can select LIV players in his team, with restrictions already imposed by the USA ruling out players who have joined the enterprise.

But Fitzpatrick, who is only interested in assembling a winning European team, has no issue with the LIV rebels, as long as they distance themselves from PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.

"It was a tough one because he [Stenson] had started gearing up for Rome, making notes and putting plans together," he admitted. "And then it's like, 'sorry, lads, I'm off.'

"As long as you go and don't come back, I don't have an issue. Go take the money, go play wherever you want, I could not care less, just don't come back and then take spots from other guys that want to play."

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