Sergio Garcia has did not qualify for The Open Championship.
The LIV Golf star headlined the last qualifying occasion at West Lancashire Golf Membership in Liverpool—one in every of 4 last qualifiers throughout the UK—however Garcia shot a 3-under 141 over 36 holes, lacking out on one of many 4 spots out there by two strokes.
“I attempted my hardest to get into The Open; it could have been good to make The Open my one hundredth main,” Garcia stated on the radio broadcast after his spherical.
“I like The Open, and I like enjoying majors. However it’s powerful whenever you’re that shut and end proper on the sting. However sadly, I gained’t have the ability to make it.”
Garcia tried to qualify for final yr’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool by the use of West Lancashire Golf Membership as effectively. However he stated the course performed more durable this yr, because of more difficult situations. That stated, Garcia felt comfy making his method round these seaside hyperlinks, because of his expertise from a yr in the past. He knew his strains and the place to overlook pictures, however the situations—and different components appeared to have gotten the very best of him.
The Spaniard expressed frustration halfway by means of his first 18 holes, when R&A officers put Garcia on the clock for sluggish play, per Ben Parsons of Bunkered.
Sergio Garcia livid at his sluggish play warning at Last Open Qualifying – saying followers are inflicting the delays. Right here he’s taking his anger out at two R&A officers.
“You’re proper, we’re at all times incorrect.” pic.twitter.com/hO2mzYgSRa
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024
Garcia stated that each one the followers following him disrupted the tempo of play, not his routine and deliberations.
“The marshals had been attempting to do the very best job they may do, however clearly, we needed to cease just about on each tee for 2 to a few minutes to hit our tee pictures as a result of individuals had been strolling in entrance of the tee and on the green,” Garcia stated per Parsons.
“Until we wished to begin hitting individuals, we couldn’t hit. I don’t suppose they took that under consideration, and that was unlucky. It made us rush. On a day like at the moment, when the situations are so difficult, and also you may want a bit bit of additional time right here and there, it doesn’t assist out. Due to that, I made a few bogeys which may value me attending to Troon.”
He tied for fifth on the 2016 Open Championship, the final time Royal Troon hosted golf’s oldest main. That yr, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson staged a duel for the ages, with the Swede warding off the American throughout an epic last spherical that noticed Stenson win by three at 20-under-par. Stenson’s rating of 264 stays the bottom combination rating in Open historical past.
As for Garcia, the Spaniard may solely make it again to Royal Troon by way of qualifying due to his LIV Golf affiliation, which has consequently plummeted his Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) to 312th on the planet. The R&A invitations solely the highest 50 gamers to spherical out its 156-man discipline, that means Garcia didn’t obtain an computerized bid.
His exemption into this championship expired in 2022—5 years after he gained The Masters.
“You come out right here, you play as exhausting as you’ll be able to and hope it’s ok,” Garcia added on the radio broadcast.
“If it’s not, then we’ll hold attempting. Then, , The Masters might be my one hundredth main subsequent April. That’s additionally a good selection.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
