Sergio Garcia Misses Short Putt, Jeopardizing Open Championship Qualification
MACAU – Sergio Garcia’s bid to qualify for The open Championship at Royal Portrush suffered a setback after he missed a short birdie putt at the International Series Macau. Meanwhile, LIV Golf members Carlos Ortiz, Patrick Reed, and Jason Kokrak secured their spots at the major championship.
Heartbreak in Macau: Garcia’s Near Miss
Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, faced a mere one-meter putt on the 18th green that would have secured his place at Royal Portrush. The missed putt leaves Garcia outside the top-3 cut off, marking a significant blow for the golfer who has participated in The Open 22 times.The top three finishers at the International Series Macau earned a spot in The Open Championship.
LIV Golfers Punch Tickets to The Open
Carlos Ortiz (-18), Patrick Reed (-17) and Jason Kokrak (-17) all secured their place at Royal Portrush, capitalizing on the prospect presented by the Asian Tour event. With LIV Golf events not offering world ranking points, many prominent LIV golfers competed at the International Series Macau in an attempt to qualify.
Qualification Still Possible for Garcia
Garcia finished fourth at -16, just one stroke behind Kokrak. Had Garcia matched Kokrak’s score by making his final putt, his higher world ranking would have secured his qualification. Garcia currently ranks 513th,while Kokrak sits at 775th.
Garcia must now pursue choice qualification routes such as the 36-hole qualifiers,which he attempted unsuccessfully in 2023 and 2024. A strong showing at the Masters Tournament could improve his chances of qualifying for The Open.
LIV Golf Pathway to The Open
The R&A has created an additional avenue for LIV Golf players to earn a spot in The Open. The highest-ranked player on the LIV Golf individual standings after the Dallas tournament in June, who is not already exempt, will be invited to compete at Royal Portrush.
Garcia currently sits third in the LIV Golf individual standings, trailing jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, who are already qualified for The Open.
**How does the LIV Golf pathway impact Sergio Garcia’s chances of qualifying for The Open Championship, and what are the potential implications for the future of LIV Golf’s relationship with major championships?**
Sergio Garcia Misses Short Putt, Jeopardizing Open Championship Qualification
MACAU – Sergio Garcia’s bid to qualify for The open Championship at Royal Portrush suffered a setback after he missed a short birdie putt at the International Series Macau. Meanwhile, LIV Golf members Carlos Ortiz, Patrick Reed, and Jason Kokrak secured their spots at the major championship.
Heartbreak in Macau: Garcia’s Near Miss
Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, faced a mere one-meter putt on the 18th green that would have secured his place at Royal Portrush. The missed putt leaves Garcia outside the top-3 cut off, marking a critically important blow for the golfer who has participated in the Open 22 times.The top three finishers at the international Series Macau earned a spot in The Open Championship.
LIV Golfers Punch Tickets to The Open
carlos Ortiz (-18), Patrick Reed (-17) and Jason Kokrak (-17) all secured their place at Royal Portrush, capitalizing on the prospect presented by the Asian Tour event.With LIV golf events not offering world ranking points, many prominent LIV golfers competed at the International Series macau in an attempt to qualify.
Qualification Still Possible for Garcia
Garcia finished fourth at -16, just one stroke behind Kokrak. Had garcia matched Kokrak’s score by making his final putt,his higher world ranking would have secured his qualification. Garcia currently ranks 513th,while Kokrak sits at 775th.
Garcia must now pursue choice qualification routes such as the 36-hole qualifiers,which he attempted unsuccessfully in 2023 and 2024. A strong showing at the Masters Tournament could improve his chances of qualifying for The Open.
LIV Golf Pathway to The Open
The R&A has created an additional avenue for LIV Golf players to earn a spot in The Open. The highest-ranked player on the LIV Golf individual standings after the Dallas tournament in June, who is not already exempt, will be invited to compete at Royal Portrush.
Garcia currently sits third in the LIV golf individual standings, trailing jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, who are already qualified for The Open.
Q&A: Unpacking Sergio garcia’s Open Championship Qualification Woes
Why is missing a short putt such a big deal for Sergio Garcia?
Missing the putt at the International Series Macau cost Garcia a guaranteed spot at The Open Championship. Only the top three finishers qualified. Missing a short putt, especially for a player of Garcia’s caliber, is a mental blow, as he would have been playing in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
How can Sergio Garcia still qualify for The Open?
Garcia can attempt to qualify through 36-hole qualifiers. Also, a strong performance at the Masters would improve his chances. Furthermore, the LIV Golf pathway offers him another chance; if he remains the highest-ranked player in the LIV Golf individual standings, not already exempt, after the Dallas tournament in June, he will earn a spot.
What is the significance of the LIV Golf pathway to The Open?
The R&A’s pathway allows LIV Golf players, who don’t earn world ranking points at their events, a chance to play in The Open. this ensures that top LIV golfers, like Garcia, still have a chance to compete in the major championship.
Who are some other notable players who qualified through the International Series Macau?
Carlos Ortiz, Patrick Reed, and Jason Kokrak secured their spots at Royal Portrush by finishing in the top three at the International Series Macau.
Why are world rankings critically important in this context?
World rankings are used to determine qualification for major championships. Had Garcia tied with Kokrak, his higher world ranking would have granted him a spot at The Open. Players use world rankings to qualify for major championships, and LIV Golf players are now using other methods to get into The Open, such as the International Series and the LIV Golf individual standings.
Garcia’s Open Championship aspirations now rely on either qualifiers or the LIV Golf pathway. Keep an eye on his performance; it’s not over until it’s over!
