Why Sergio Garcia is back on DP World Tour in Bahrain this week

Golf legend Sergio Garcia will make his first DP World Tour start in over three months at this week’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, returning to the European circuit on a sponsor’s invite.

The record Ryder Cup points scorer gave up his DP World Tour membership for 2026 after missing out on Luke Donald’s team for Bethpage Black in September. 

Why is Sergio Garcia back on DP World Tour in Bahrain?

Garcia's return to the DP World Tour at Royal Golf Club comes as part of his growing ties to the sport in Bahrain.

The 2017 Masters champion has been closely involved with the region, serving as course designer and brand ambassador for a new project at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa, just west of Royal Golf Club. 

Garcia's new course, developed alongside Bareeq Al Retaj, is part of a wider initiative to expand golf in the kingdom.

Garcia, captain of Fireballs GC on the LIV Golf League, played only twice on the DP World Tour in 2025.

That was below the minimum four events required to retain membership, and he therefore had to forfeit his DP World Tour card. 

He told GolfMagic last year that he withdrew from the Irish Open after learning he would not be selected for the Ryder Cup team. 

Garcia's return to the circuit last year was motivated by Ryder Cup ambitions, which as it stands, remain out of reach for 2027 since he is no longer a member of the Tour. 

As things stand, Garcia will rely on sponsor invites (category 5) to play on the DP World Tour. 

Garcia remains eligible for The Masters as a former champion but would need exemptions or qualifiers to compete in the other majors.

This week, he joins three other LIV Golf players in the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, including defending champion Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, and Patrick Reed, who won the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.

Reed dropped a bombshell in front of reporters when confirming he's not officially locked in for the 2026 LIV Golf League season.

The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship marks the eighth tournament of the DP World Tour’s International Swing.

Sergio Garcia relying on sponsor invites for DP World Tour starts

Garcia has told GolfMagic he is hopeful of receiving a couple more sponsor invites throughout 2026 to ensure he can still compete on the circuit he has 16 wins to his name. 

One of those DP World Tour events where an invite is more than likely to land on Garcia's doorstep is the Open de Espana from 8-11 October, especially given the LIV Golf season will be over by then. 

Garcia will return to LIV Golf next week at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the breakaway league's first event of 2026. 

He is the captain of Fireballs GC, which comprises himself, David Puig, Josele Ballester and Luis Masaveu, with the latter having replaced Abraham Ancer.