Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood will be ineligible for this year's Ryder Cup after the DP World Tour confirmed on Wednesday that they had resigned their Tour memberships. Their resignations come a month after the DP World Tour, which was formerly known as the European Tour, won its legal battle to be able to suspend and fine players who featured in conflicting LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;events without permission.

The DP World said in a statement they had been sanctioned for serious breaches of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation committed last June, after playing in the first Saudi-backed LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;event in England. The trio of Poulter, Garcia and Westwood have played in 28 Ryder Cups between them.

"The DP World Tour would like to thank the four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular to Sergio, Ian and Lee for the significant part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years," the Tour said in a statement. "Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, are a consequence of their own choices. "The Tour has a responsibility to its entire membership to administer the member regulations which each player signs up to." The DP World Tour added it would provide further updates on other sanctioned members on Thursday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-tiger-woods-caddie-joe-lacava-part-ways-after-12-years-588531">Golf: Tiger Woods, caddie Joe LaCava part ways after 12 years</a>

This year's Ryder Cup takes place at the Marco Simone&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;and Country Club near Rome from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. Garcia is the Ryder Cup's record points scorer with 28.5, while Westwood has played a record 11 matches, being part of seven winning teams. Poulter, another Ryder Cup stalwart, has played a key role in some of Europe's biggest successes in the biennial contest against the United States.

Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood will be ineligible for this year's Ryder Cup after the DP World Tour confirmed on Wednesday that they had resigned their Tour memberships.

Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Lee Westwood will be ineligible for this year's Ryder Cup after the DP World Tour confirmed on Wednesday that they had resigned their Tour memberships. Their resignations come a month after the DP World Tour, which was formerly known as the European Tour, won its legal battle to be able to suspend and fine players who featured in conflicting LIV Golf events without permission. The DP World said in a statement they had been sanctioned for serious breaches of the Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation committed last June, after playing in the first Saudi-backed LIV Golf event in England. The trio of Poulter, Garcia and Westwood have played in 28 Ryder Cups between them. "The DP World Tour would like to thank the four players for the contribution they have made to the Tour and in particular to Sergio, Ian and Lee for the significant part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years," the Tour said in a statement. "Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, are a consequence of their own choices. "The Tour has a responsibility to its entire membership to administer the member regulations which each player signs up to." The DP World Tour added it would provide further updates on other sanctioned members on Thursday. Also Read: Golf: Tiger Woods, caddie Joe LaCava part ways after 12 years This year's Ryder Cup takes place at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. Garcia is the Ryder Cup's record points scorer with 28.5, while Westwood has played a record 11 matches, being part of seven winning teams. Poulter, another Ryder Cup stalwart, has played a key role in some of Europe's biggest successes in the biennial contest against the United States.

Golf: Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood not eligible for Ryder Cup after resigning Tour membership

The Saudi-backed Liv Golf circuit has touched down in Asia. Bangkok's Stonehill golf course is hosting the penultimate event of the inaugural season. Amid a fierce battle between Liv Golf and the PGA Tour, WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo caught up with five-time Ryder Cup winner Ian Poulter to discuss the series' explosive first season.

WION Sports Exclusive: Ian Poulter on his LIV Golf journey

Veteran English golfer Ian Poulter said it was the brand and the vision of the LIV Golf Series which played a significant role in driving his decision to join the rival league. The lucrative series is funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and has been subjected to intense criticism from all corners ever since its inception.

LIV Golf has left the golf world divided with the PGA Tour currently locked in a court battle with the rival tour. The PGA Tour had recently countersued LIV, alleging that the rival golf circuit is competing using unfair practices by luring players with millions of dollars.

However, LIV Golf despite having shaken up the traditional structure in the sport remains unfazed as it prepares for its sixth tournament in Asia this week. LIV Gol has managed to assemble a star-studded expensive line-up consisting&nbsp;of the likes of&nbsp;Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson among others and some of the big names will be in action during the event in Bangkok.

Poulter, who is among the stars to have signed up with LIV Golf, is currently in Bangkok where he opened up on a range of topics right from his decision to join the rebel league to his journey so far in an exclusive interaction with WION.

"Don't know if it (LIV Golf) has brought us together but we understood the ability of what this would give us. It gives us a platform to play golf, the same way the European tour has a platform, same way the Asian Tour and the same way the PGA tour. And players like myself have played these tours and tournaments all over the globe for 24 years.&nbsp;

"This is another outlet for us to be able to go and play golf. This is why we took the choice to join LIV, we saw the vision, we saw the brand and how it would add to the team format situation and I am proud to be in a position where we have our team set," Poulter said explaining his decision to join the rebel circuit.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-liv-golf-has-definitely-been-a-catalyst-for-the-games-growth-says-anirban-lahiri-511660">EXCLUSIVE | LIV Golf has definitely been a catalyst for the game's growth, says Anirban Lahiri</a>

Poulter agreed they can be the pioneers of the rebel circuit which has shaken up the sport with its arrival. Expressing his optimism, the 46-year-old, who won 17 tournaments across multiple tours around the world, said LIV Golf's rapid growth is proof why it has big potential in the future.

"Yes, it has definitely shaken up the sport, there is no question about that. Calling us pioneers? It's a new entity, it's a start-up business, it's a business which has got traction extremely quickly. The viewership is growing extremely quickly. It is also kind of getting into the team format just like we have understood and that's the reason why we have got so many strong players playing in this series," Poulter explained.

While the PGA handed immediate bans to the players who signed up with LIV Golf, the DP World Tour refrained from banning rebel players but imposed fines on those joining the rebel circuit. A court hearing will take place in February to decide the fate of LIV Golf players, who want to continue in the DP World Tour.&nbsp;

Poulter, who was among the prominent names to stand up against sanctions and bans on LIV Golf players, said players have played multiple tours in the past and can continue doing so now.

"There has been a lot of talk, I have been part of the case against my position in Europe, I objected against the suspension and obviously the fine situation and we will see how that plays out but there has been an awful lot said. I am not going to elaborate, I don't think I need to, I feel it's out there. There is the ability to play multiple tours as we have done in the past and this shouldn't be any different," he told WION.

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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tension-continues-as-pga-tour-files-countersuit-against-liv-golf-520964">Tension continues as PGA Tour files countersuit against LIV Golf</a>

LIV golfers have so far been deprived of any golf ranking points for competing in the rebel circuit. Many top players who have signed up for the breakaway circuit have suffered in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) due to not being awarded points.&nbsp;

Stirring up the debate over world ranking points, Poulter called the current ranking system 'dated' and questioned whether it should be considered a valid entity as it stands. However, the English golfer insisted it will be best for all parties if the governing bodies can find a way to give LIV golfers ranking points within the current system without tweaking much.

"We are definitely out there to entertain the fans like we have done for the last 24 years. The way the governing bodies are looking at it, is something to be questioned. They need to sit together and work out a solution and whether the official world rankings are a valid entity as it stands today.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-rankings-risk-being-laughing-stock-if-liv-excluded-says-greg-norman-516108">Golf rankings risk being 'laughing stock' if LIV excluded, says Greg Norman</a>

It's looking more and more dated the way it stands and however, the majors themselves would actually see whether there is a possibility of a LIV qualification criteria into their event. We are not sure, it changes daily. Greg and the whole team that are active out there, and are trying to take a stand for all the players so we will have to wait and see," said Poulter.

"There is criteria in place that you will have to tick a number of boxes to be able to get world rankings and we are fully aware of that. If there are tweaks here and there, if there is a way to make it work within the actual system itself then it will be better for the overall golf fam.

It's a little bit of a broken system at the minute. The hope for every player that's out here paying is that there is level of senibility, the best players can compete against the best players in the world in the tournaments fans love to watch. We can only be hopeful that has some level of coming together."

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&nbsp;

Veteran English golfer Ian Poulter said it was the brand and the vision of the LIV Golf Series which played a significant role in driving his decision to join the rival league.

Veteran English golfer Ian Poulter said it was the brand and the vision of the LIV Golf Series which played a significant role in driving his decision to join the rival league. The lucrative series is funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and has been subjected to intense criticism from all corners ever since its inception. LIV Golf has left the golf world divided with the PGA Tour currently locked in a court battle with the rival tour. The PGA Tour had recently countersued LIV, alleging that the rival golf circuit is competing using unfair practices by luring players with millions of dollars. However, LIV Golf despite having shaken up the traditional structure in the sport remains unfazed as it prepares for its sixth tournament in Asia this week. LIV Gol has managed to assemble a star-studded expensive line-up consisting of the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson among others and some of the big names will be in action during the event in Bangkok. Poulter, who is among the stars to have signed up with LIV Golf, is currently in Bangkok where he opened up on a range of topics right from his decision to join the rebel league to his journey so far in an exclusive interaction with WION. "Don't know if it (LIV Golf) has brought us together but we understood the ability of what this would give us. It gives us a platform to play golf, the same way the European tour has a platform, same way the Asian Tour and the same way the PGA tour. And players like myself have played these tours and tournaments all over the globe for 24 years. "This is another outlet for us to be able to go and play golf. This is why we took the choice to join LIV, we saw the vision, we saw the brand and how it would add to the team format situation and I am proud to be in a position where we have our team set," Poulter said explaining his decision to join the rebel circuit. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE | LIV Golf has definitely been a catalyst for the game's growth, says Anirban Lahiri Poulter agreed they can be the pioneers of the rebel circuit which has shaken up the sport with its arrival. Expressing his optimism, the 46-year-old, who won 17 tournaments across multiple tours around the world, said LIV Golf's rapid growth is proof why it has big potential in the future. "Yes, it has definitely shaken up the sport, there is no question about that. Calling us pioneers? It's a new entity, it's a start-up business, it's a business which has got traction extremely quickly. The viewership is growing extremely quickly. It is also kind of getting into the team format just like we have understood and that's the reason why we have got so many strong players playing in this series," Poulter explained. While the PGA handed immediate bans to the players who signed up with LIV Golf, the DP World Tour refrained from banning rebel players but imposed fines on those joining the rebel circuit. A court hearing will take place in February to decide the fate of LIV Golf players, who want to continue in the DP World Tour. Poulter, who was among the prominent names to stand up against sanctions and bans on LIV Golf players, said players have played multiple tours in the past and can continue doing so now. "There has been a lot of talk, I have been part of the case against my position in Europe, I objected against the suspension and obviously the fine situation and we will see how that plays out but there has been an awful lot said. I am not going to elaborate, I don't think I need to, I feel it's out there. There is the ability to play multiple tours as we have done in the past and this shouldn't be any different," he told WION. × Also Read: Tension continues as PGA Tour files countersuit against LIV Golf LIV golfers have so far been deprived of any golf ranking points for competing in the rebel circuit. Many top players who have signed up for the breakaway circuit have suffered in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) due to not being awarded points. Stirring up the debate over world ranking points, Poulter called the current ranking system 'dated' and questioned whether it should be considered a valid entity as it stands. However, the English golfer insisted it will be best for all parties if the governing bodies can find a way to give LIV golfers ranking points within the current system without tweaking much. "We are definitely out there to entertain the fans like we have done for the last 24 years. The way the governing bodies are looking at it, is something to be questioned. They need to sit together and work out a solution and whether the official world rankings are a valid entity as it stands today. Also Read: Golf rankings risk being 'laughing stock' if LIV excluded, says Greg Norman It's looking more and more dated the way it stands and however, the majors themselves would actually see whether there is a possibility of a LIV qualification criteria into their event. We are not sure, it changes daily. Greg and the whole team that are active out there, and are trying to take a stand for all the players so we will have to wait and see," said Poulter. "There is criteria in place that you will have to tick a number of boxes to be able to get world rankings and we are fully aware of that. If there are tweaks here and there, if there is a way to make it work within the actual system itself then it will be better for the overall golf fam. It's a little bit of a broken system at the minute. The hope for every player that's out here paying is that there is level of senibility, the best players can compete against the best players in the world in the tournaments fans love to watch. We can only be hopeful that has some level of coming together." ×

EXCLUSIVE! We saw the vision: Ian Poulter explains his decision to join LIV Golf, stirs world ranking debate

If you want to get on the right side of Wisconsin locals you can do two things -- dress like you are a Green Bay Packers supporter and wear a giant slice of foam cheese on your head.

The European&nbsp;Ryder&nbsp;Cup team did both on Wednesday as they launched a charm offensive at Whistling Straits before facing the hostile US&nbsp;home crowd when play begins on Friday in the biennial event.

Wearing green-and-yellow striped outfits, the 12-man European squad looked like they were getting ready to run out on to Lambeau Field, home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, as much as get in some practice on the links style layout.

To complete the look, the Europeans donned huge foam wedges of orange cheese before lining up for a team photo to the delight of spectators who screamed their approval.

"When we were doing the clothing they were talking about maybe bringing some Irish colours in for me," said European captain Padraig Harrington. "I'm not really into that sort of stuff, so I came up with why don't we do something with Wisconsin.

"Obviously, the Green Bay Packers fit both the Irish and the Green Bay Packers, and then the cheeseheads came in and a bit of fun with it.

"Look, it's lighthearted. You want it that way in practice.

"It's somewhat respectful of obviously the Green Bay Packers, and they were very much on board with this, so a bit of fun and we got a nice reception with it.

"Obviously, business starts on Friday, but at the moment the players are enjoying it and having a good time of it."

Certainly the Europeans do not expect the same reception when play gets underway.

Back on American soil for the first time in five years and with COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, the usual army of European fans will be absent from Whistling Straits, leaving Harrington's 12-man team to face a super-charged atmosphere over the three days of competition.

"The U.S. fans have been brilliant to far, they really have," said European stalwart Ian Poulter, who will be playing in his seventh&nbsp;Ryder&nbsp;Cup. "They're wishing me well. Not too well, but they're wishing me well, which is quite nice.

"That hasn't always been the case, but so far so good."

Without their usual crowd support, Tommy Fleetwood said the Europeans would lean on each other to make the right atmosphere.

"I think we create it ourselves and we do it with each other," said Fleetwood. "Of course, this is a different challenge, different atmosphere for us.

"Even though it's not my first&nbsp;Ryder&nbsp;Cup, it's my first one in America. I'm still excited by the challenge and what an away crowd for us brings to it, and maybe the advantage that the Americans have."

If you want to get on the right side of Wisconsin locals you can do two things -- dress like you are a Green Bay Packers supporter and wear a giant slice of foam cheese on your head.

If you want to get on the right side of Wisconsin locals you can do two things -- dress like you are a Green Bay Packers supporter and wear a giant slice of foam cheese on your head. The European Ryder Cup team did both on Wednesday as they launched a charm offensive at Whistling Straits before facing the hostile US home crowd when play begins on Friday in the biennial event. Wearing green-and-yellow striped outfits, the 12-man European squad looked like they were getting ready to run out on to Lambeau Field, home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, as much as get in some practice on the links style layout. To complete the look, the Europeans donned huge foam wedges of orange cheese before lining up for a team photo to the delight of spectators who screamed their approval. "When we were doing the clothing they were talking about maybe bringing some Irish colours in for me," said European captain Padraig Harrington. "I'm not really into that sort of stuff, so I came up with why don't we do something with Wisconsin. "Obviously, the Green Bay Packers fit both the Irish and the Green Bay Packers, and then the cheeseheads came in and a bit of fun with it. "Look, it's lighthearted. You want it that way in practice. "It's somewhat respectful of obviously the Green Bay Packers, and they were very much on board with this, so a bit of fun and we got a nice reception with it. "Obviously, business starts on Friday, but at the moment the players are enjoying it and having a good time of it." Certainly the Europeans do not expect the same reception when play gets underway. Back on American soil for the first time in five years and with COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, the usual army of European fans will be absent from Whistling Straits, leaving Harrington's 12-man team to face a super-charged atmosphere over the three days of competition. "The U.S. fans have been brilliant to far, they really have," said European stalwart Ian Poulter, who will be playing in his seventh Ryder Cup. "They're wishing me well. Not too well, but they're wishing me well, which is quite nice. "That hasn't always been the case, but so far so good." Without their usual crowd support, Tommy Fleetwood said the Europeans would lean on each other to make the right atmosphere. "I think we create it ourselves and we do it with each other," said Fleetwood. "Of course, this is a different challenge, different atmosphere for us. "Even though it's not my first Ryder Cup, it's my first one in America. I'm still excited by the challenge and what an away crowd for us brings to it, and maybe the advantage that the Americans have."

'Say cheese', Europeans court Packers fans at Ryder Cup

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Golf: Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood not eligible for Ryder Cup after resigning Tour membership

WION Sports Exclusive: Ian Poulter on his LIV Golf journey

EXCLUSIVE! We saw the vision: Ian Poulter explains his decision to join LIV Golf, stirs world ranking debate

'Say cheese', Europeans court Packers fans at Ryder Cup