LIV Golf star Sergio Garcia yells at R&A officials, “You’re right, we’re always wrong,” as he fails to make the cut for The Open.
Once Sergio Garcia was placed on the clock, he lost one of the four spots in the 152nd Open Championship and proceeded to act out in front of R&A officials.
Garcia, 44, missed out on qualifying for The Open the previous season—a first since 1997.
And after painfully missing out at West Lancashire GC, the LIV Golf star has regrettably lost out again for 2024.
Garcia had a 1-under 71 morning round and a 2-under 70 afternoon round to finish at 3-under par.
However, that fell short by two strokes of what was needed to secure one of the four spots for the Royal Troon Open Championship in 2024.
Garcia’s group was put on the clock after making consecutive shots from the 7th in his morning round.
According to reports, Garcia was “furious” about his group’s slow play warning.
In his group were Sam Bairstow and Alex Maguire, both of whom failed to qualify for The Open.
Garcia was reportedly seen “taking his anger out at two R&A officials,” according to Ben Parsons of Bunkered.
He explained to officials that the players had nothing to do with his group’s delay; rather, it was the result of onlookers.
Garcia was notified by R&A officials that his group was four minutes behind schedule.
An official warning was given to Sergio Garcia’s group for slow play in the eighth. Every time Garcia hits a tee shot, he has to wait three to four minutes for the fans to move. @WestLancsGC pic.twitter.com/3SDUbtVQ9d
Ben Parsons, on Twitter: @_benparsons Garcia informed officials on July 2, 2024, that he had to “wait three to four minutes for fans to move on every tee shot.”
“You’re right, we’re always wrong,” Garcia angrily told R&A representatives.
At the end, Garcia’s group was one of ten three-balls on the clock at West Lancs.
Scroll below to watch Garcia’s rant…
Infuriated by his slow play warning during Final Open Qualifying, Sergio Garcia claimed that spectators were to blame for the delays. He is venting his resentment at two R&A representatives here.
“You’re right—we’re never right.” screenshot.twitter.com/hO2mzYgSRa
Ben Parsons, on Twitter: @_benparsons July 2, 2024 Parsons reported that Garcia was “still simmering” over his slow play warning as he proceeded down the tenth hole.
To try to stop spectators from interfering with play, the R&A sent out more marshals for the afternoon rounds.
It seemed to have a little effect.
A year prior, during 2023 Open Final Qualifying, Garcia had called a photographer a “d*ck.” This incident prompted his outburst at R&A officials.
HERE ARE WEST LANCS SCORES.
Masahiro Kawamura, LIV Golf’s Sam Horsfield, amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry, and Daniel Brown were the four players who won at West Lancs and punched their tickets to The Open.
One shot ahead of Brown and Kawamura, Dodd-Berry and Horsfield concluded the 36-hole qualifier at 6-under par.
At West Lancs, 72 players participated in competition.
LIV Golf Professional Carlos Ortiz finished at 3-under par, the same score as Garcia, but was unable to advance to The Open.
To his credit, Garcia lingered to sign autographs for all the young admirers who had gathered at the rear of the 18th to see him.
Garcia would have played in his 100th major if he had made it to The Open today.
Garcia missed The Open, so he spent a good deal of time signing autographs for young fans following his round. Counted as his 100th major. tweet.com/Bk4AnAZQfu
Ben Parsons, on Twitter: @_benparsons 2 July 2024
At each of the four qualifying sites today—West Lancs, Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, and Royal Cinque Ports—there were four Open spots available.
The 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose is trying to reserve his spot at The Open at Burnham & Berrow.
The Open Championship in 2024 will be held in Royal Troon, Scotland, from July 18–21.
