Exclusive: Lee Westwood reveals why he did not follow Sergio Garcia back to DP World Tour

Lee Westwood has told GolfMagic he has decided to not follow Sergio Garcia and return to the DP World Tour in 2025 because he does not feel comfortable paying his fines especially with future sanctions not being clear enough.

Westwood, 51, first joined the European Tour (now the DP World Tour) in 1993 and he went on to win 25 times before terminating his 30-year membership of the circuit in 2023. 

The former World No.1 made the decision last season after facing outstanding fines over $1m for having competed in LIV Golf events while he was still a DP World Tour member.

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Westwood was one of several LIV Golf players - including Garcia and Ian Poulter - to appeal against such fines being enforceable but they ultimately lost their battle in April 2023. 

Fast forward some 18 months and Garcia has now decided to pay off his hefty fines and return to the DP World Tour in 2025.

The decision now gives Garcia a chance to match Westwood and Sir Nick Faldo's feat of 11 European Ryder Cup team appearances. 

But Westwood and Poulter have both decided to not pay off their fines and therefore not return to the DP World Tour next season. 

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Poulter last week told Sports Illustrated that Garcia's return to the DP World Tour will come at a huge cost to be eligible for the Ryder Cup. 

Westwood has today told GolfMagic that while he has not lost interest in the DP World Tour, he did not want to follow Garcia back onto the former European Tour because he still "doesn't feel comfortable paying the fines, especially with future sanctions not being clear."

The Englishman also informed us he would only consider a potential return to the DP World Tour in the future once "there is clarity on future fines and suspensions."

Westwood is very much hopeful that progress can be made in the future though. 

"We've come a long way in two years and hopefully we're closer to a resolution," Westwood told GolfMagic.

"A resolution would be best for golf."

As for Westwood's aspirations as a European Ryder Cup captain, right now it's not possible since he is no longer a DP World Tour member. 

But should things change in the future then Westwood would consider it a big "honour". 

Westwood was speaking to GolfMagic following the launch of his brand new Majesticks GC: Inside The Ropes docuseries. 

Majesticks GC comprises Westwood, Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sam Horsfield. 

Scroll down for our full exclusive interview with Lee Westwood...

Lee, let's start with your new docuseries Majesticks GC: Inside The Ropes... how much fun was that to film and how tough did you find it having a camera in your face just about 24/7 during the season?!

Yeah it was great fun to film but I do find it tricky sometimes as I'm quite a private person, and I'm not jumping up and down to be followed around by a TV crew!

What gave you most pride on Majesticks GC this season, and what would you say was the toughest moment of your season? 

Well we didn't play as great as we would have liked but there were some good individual performances. I guess we stuck in there throughout the whole season. I think just the fact we didn't play very well and didn't get on the podium when we had the chances, just finishing off good performances was tough to take. But what gave me most pride was seeing Little Sticks coming together and doing little days here and there, like the one at St George's Park. I'd say that gives me more pride than anything, the actual giving back part more than the performances during the season.

We absolutely loved your Majesticks Arms pub at LIV Golf UK, how much fun did you have with all that and can we expect more of the same in 2025?

Yeah I'm sure we will be doing it again, it was great fun. That 9th green at JCB was very, very rowdy but very fun. 

What was your favourite LIV Golf event of 2024 and why? 

I would say where I finished third in Nashville was my favourite event of the season. Other events I enjoyed but didn't play as well were the UK event, Hong Kong and Valderrama where I played okay finishing 12th. 

The bond you guys share at Majesticks GC having watched your docuseries is clearly very strong. Would you say it brought you all even closer this season? 

I think we are just really close anyway with us all being similar ages - apart from Sam! We have spent so much time together even prior to LIV Golf so I don't think the docuseries necessarily brought us closer because we were already so close anyway. 

What surprised you most from Majesticks GC: Inside The Ropes? 

I was quite surprised with how intense it was and how much stuff you have to do for it all to be clipped into a short space of time. 

What have you made of Sergio Garcia's return to the DP World Tour in 2025 and that he could potentially return to the European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage in September? 

Yeah it's his choice, he decided to pay his fines and that entitles him to go on the qualifying list. Whether he will play enough events or not I don't know, but he has decided to give himself the opportunity. He played great last season and I wish him all the best. 

Did you contemplate making a similar decision to Garcia, or have you completely lost interest in the DP World Tour now? 

I've not lost interest in the DP World Tour, it's where I have played for 30 years, but I don't feel comfortable paying the fines, especially with future sanctions not being clear. Until there is clarity on future fines and suspensions, I won't be rejoining the DP World Tour. That all said, we've come a long way in two years and hopefully we're closer to a resolution. A resolution would be the best for golf. 

How confident are you that one day you will be able to captain the Ryder Cup team? 

Whilst I'm not a member I can't be captain, but if there was an opportunity in the future then it would be an honour. 

Related: 

• GolfMagic speaks to Majesticks GC Team Principal James Dunkley

Watch the first two episodes of the brand new Majesticks GC: Inside The Ropes docuseries: 

Keep it locked to the following Majesticks GC channels to watch the rest of the series: 

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• Majesticks GC YouTube

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