Garcia Narrowly Misses 153rd Open Championship Spot

Sergio Garcia narrowly missed qualifying for the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush after missing a crucial three-foot birdie putt during the International Series in Macau. Three fellow LIV Golf players—Carlos Ortiz, Patrick Reed, and Jason Kokrak—secured their spots by finishing in the top three, while Garcia ended in fourth place. Due to LIV Golf's exclusion from Official World Golf Ranking points, players like Garcia face additional challenges in qualifying for major tournaments. Garcia, who remains committed to finding a path to the Open, can still qualify through the LIV Golf order of merit or final qualifying events. Despite the setback, Garcia's past victories, such as the 2017 Masters, ensure his continued participation in some majors like The Masters. Additionally, the R&A has introduced a new exemption for the top player in the LIV standings not already qualified for the Open, offering Garcia another potential route to Royal Portrush.