Ryder Cup: Sergio Garcia pick supported by Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose

Europe’s Ryder Cup team was completed on Wednesday, and Sergio Garcia made the squad despite a wildly disappointing season in 2018. However, some of Europe’s biggest stars, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, are totally on board with Thomas Bjorn’s selection.

Sergio Garcia is one of the best Ryder Cup players in history with a 19-11-7  record and 22 1/2 points won.  He’s a popular pick with his teammates because, according to them, it’s not just the number of victories he has – or his well-documented struggles this year – it’s what he does in the team room.

While team rooms are sacred territory, having a “what-happens-in-the-team-room-stays-in-the-team-room” mentality, the players who show value off the course are typically welcomed back no matter what they have done lately.  Such is the case with Garcia, at least according to Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.

McIlroy said he had spoken to Thomas Bjorn, the European Ryder Cup captain, before the picks were made.

"“I think the three, Paul [Casey], Ian [Poulter] and Henrik [Stenson], they were certain and then it was just between sort of I guess Sergio, Rafa [Cabrera-Bello], maybe Matt Fitzpatrick,” McIlroy said to media at the BMW Championship."

Bjorn ultimately selected Casey, Poulter, Stenson and Garcia.

Rose intimated that relationships between players can also affect selections.

“Matt Wallace became part of the conversation and every credit to him,” Rose noted speaking to media at the BMW Championship. “I just feel maybe he probably didn’t have enough established relationships within a team.”

Garcia has played with numerous European partners over the years, including his debut season in 1999 when he partnered with Jesper Parnevik. Garcia went 4-0-1 for the week.

He played with McIlroy in McIlroy’s first Ryder Cup appearance.

“He’s made my experiences at Ryder Cups better. He’s been a great partner for me,” McIlroy said of Garcia. “He’s been great in the team room. It’s just stuff that you don’t — obviously his record speaks for itself, but it’s stuff people don’t see is basically what got him this wild card pick.”

Rose pointed to the experience that Garcia brings to the team.

"“Many players deserve a spot in the Ryder Cup team, but no one is here to do anybody favors, either,” Rose added. “It’s about how can you assemble 12 guys to put points on the board when it counts on Friday, Saturday, Sunday in a Ryder Cup, and Thomas obviously felt Sergio was more likely to deliver a point when needed.”More from Pro Golf NowGolf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning dealFantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player SelectionsBrutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at ConcessionFantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament"

However, part of the Ryder Cup equation is more than playing golf.  Some of it is social, as McIlroy explained.

"“You’ve got all this stuff to do and like gala dinners and opening ceremonies and this and that,” he explained. “All of that stuff you don’t expect when it’s your first one, but at least, whenever you have experienced guys, everyone knows what to expect, and they know that the first few days are long, and you need to pace yourself, and you can’t wear yourself out, you can’t play too much or practice too much.”"

Based on Garcia’s Cup record at least, it is hard to argue with Bjorn’s decision. Garcia has played with 11 different teammates since 1999. He is now ranked fifth in most Ryder Cup points won on the European Tour with 22½.  He is behind only Sir Nick Faldo (25), Bernhard Langer (24), Colin Montgomerie (23 ½) and Lee Westwood (23).  Should he win three points in 2018, he would overtake Faldo as the top European Ryder Cup player in history.

Garcia’s incredible Ryder Cup results include:

• In 2002, Garcia paired with Lee Westwood and was 3-2-0 for the matches.
• In 2004, trading off with Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, Garcia was again 4-0-1.
• In 2006 he paired three times with Jose Maria Olazabal and once with Luke Donald.  In all of those events, Garcia played five matches.
• In 2008, Garcia partnered with three different Euros, Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Paul Casey. It was his worst career showing, with a 0-2-2 total.

Garcia was not on the Ryder Cup team in 2010, but he was a vice captain.

In 2012, Garcia was on the team again, playing four matches with two different partners, Luke Donald and Nicolas Colsaerts, and going 2-2-0.

In 2014,  Garcia played three times with Rory McIlroy and then played his singles match for 2-1-1.

In the most recent Ryder Cup, Garcia partnered with Martin Kaymer and Rafa Cabrera-Bello, going 1-2-2.

(Those looking for Ryder Cup records should be aware that there are several incorrect records in current on-line articles and stats, including on the official Ryder Cup web site.  The PGA of America provided the current totals for Garcia.)