On a historic day for European golf, LIV Golf players Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Richard Bland resigned from the European Tour, the tour announced on Wednesday.
Last month, the European Tour won its legal battle with rebels after the players appealed against punishments the tour wanted to impose on those who took part in the inaugural LIV event last year.
Ryder Cup stars Garcia, Poulter and Westwood will not be eligible for the matches against the United States in Rome later this year.
Watch every round of the Wells Fargo Championship LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“(The tour) would like to take this opportunity 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 European Tour said in a statement.
“Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, are a consequence of their own choices.”
Former world number one Westwood, 2017 Masters champion Garcia and Poulter have 53 European Tour victories between them.
Twelve players, including Westwood, Poulter and Bland, appealed against the sanctions imposed last year.
The case arose when players requested releases to play in the LIV Golf event at the Centurion Club in England in June last year.
Those requests were denied but the players competed regardless and were fined £100,000 and suspended from the Scottish Open and two other events.
Garcia was among four players to withdraw from the legal case, which was heard behind closed doors by Sports Resolutions UK in February.
The players could have opted to appeal again.
Europe will be without three of its biggest Ryder Cup stars when the event gets underway in September.
Gooch holds on to win Liv Down Under | 01:27
Spain’s Garcia holds the record of 28.5 points, while Westwood has competed in 11 Ryder Cups, a European record he shares with Nick Faldo.
Westwood said it was a “sad day”, but added: “I could not really see any other option with all the punishments hanging over me.
“I don’t agree with the direction Keith [Pelley] and his board have taken and I want to move on.”
Poulter is best known for his Ryder Cup exploits, notably inspiring Europe’s remarkable comeback in the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
The European Tour said it would provide an update on other sanctioned players on Thursday.
Englishman Bland became the oldest first-time winner in European Tour history aged 48 when he won the 2021 British Masters.