Sergio Garcia risks missing US Open after agonising playoff defeat
Sergio Garcia is on the edge of not playing in the US Open for the first time since 1999 after losing in a playoff at Final Qualifying in Dallas…
Sergio Garcia devastatingly failed to earn a spot at the US Open through Final Qualifying.
The former Masters champion played in the pre-tournament qualifier at Dallas Athletic Club in Texas and rounds of 66 and 73 took him into a seven-man playoff with six spots up for grabs.
The Spaniard made a bogey in the playoff to drop out of contention which means he could miss this year’s edition of America’s national championship, a feeling he’s not had since 1999.
Garcia has been one of the outstanding European players of his generation. After many near misses in major championships, he finally won the Masters in 2017. A year later, Garcia became the highest points scorer in the history of the Ryder Cup when he beat Rickie Fowler in the singles session of the biennial event against the USA in France.
The 44-year-old joined LIV Golf in June 2022. The start-up Saudi-backed circuit has lured many of the game’s most recognisable faces including Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, as well as European icons like Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.
| LIV Golf players in the 2024 US Open field (as of May 21) |
| Jon Rahm |
| Brooks Koepka |
| Dustin Johnson |
| Cameron Smith |
| Bryson DeChambeau |
| Phil Mickelson |
| Martin Kaymer |
| Tyrrell Hatton |
| Adrian Meronk |
| Eugenio Chacarra |
Sergio Garcia: US Open Qualifying bid fails in unfortunate fashion
The LIV Golf League’s attempt to gain Official World Golf Ranking status was rejected back in October, meaning players such as Garcia continue to tumble down the rankings and at the same time, watch their reserve of major exemptions run dry.
Garcia did earn first alternate status for the third major of 2024 at Pinehurst, so all is not lost for him who finished tied for third in the 2005 US Open. His LIV teammate and Fireballs GC teammate Eugenio Chacarra passed the Dallas qualifying with flying colours and 10 other hopefuls too.
Another former Masters champion and LIV player Patrick Reed had been entered in Dallas but didn’t play. This ends the American’s long appearance streak in the majors which dates back to the 2014 Masters.
Abraham Ancer, Caleb Surratt, Carlos Ortiz, Danny Lee and Brendan Steele were other players from the breakaway league’s roster not to qualify at the same event as Garcia. Sam Horsfield, who plays in the same LIV team as Westwood and Poulter, also tried and failed in the 36-hole event at Walton Heath.
Popular Englishman Robert Rock came tied for fourth in the preliminary event in Surrey to make his first major field since the 2019 Open. European Ryder Cup vice-captain Edoardo Molinari also made it through one shot behind Rock and his brother Francesco earned a spot where Garcia couldn’t in Dallas.
Check the US Open Final Qualifying website for every player who qualified for the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst on May 20, which will be held June 13 – 16. There will be 10 more Final Qualifying events between now and June 3.
NOW READ: Which LIV Golfers have qualified for majors in 2024?
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
