Sergio Garcia Loses It After Slow-Play Warning, Fails To Qualify For Open Championship

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Like many LIV Golf players, Sergio Garcia has to qualify his way into the Open Championship this year, which takes place at Royal Troon starting July 18. 

West Lancashire held a Final Qualifying tournament Tuesday with four spots in the Open up for grabs. Garcia competed with 68 others, battling for those four spots, playing 36 holes in one day. 

But there was a bit of an issue with Garcia's play Tuesday. It wasn't so much that he played badly, because he didn't. But during the first 18 holes of his day, officials gave Garcia a warning for playing too slowly. 

Garcia, who is known for having a bit of a temper, didn't take too kindly to being told to pick up his pace. 

Garcia ultimately shot a one-under 71 during his first round, which placed him inside the Top 10, but outside the Top 4 needed to qualify. 

Being outside the Top 4 meant that Sergio Garcia had to play well during his second 18-hole round to earn his way into the 2024 Open Championship.

But he just didn't have enough game to get it done. Garcia shot one better in his second round than he did in his first, posting a two-under 70 for a two-round total of three-under-par. 

His bogey at the par-5 second hole was his biggest undoing. That was a birdie opportunity and cost him two shots by making a six instead of a four. 

Sergio Garcia received a slow play warning from officials during an Open Championship qualifier and then failed to shoot a good enough score to earn his bid into the prestigious tournament.

Sergio Garcia received a slow play warning from officials during an Open Championship qualifier and then failed to shoot a good enough score to earn his bid into the prestigious tournament. 

(Jan Kruger/R&A via Getty Images)

And, wouldn't you know, he missed qualifying by two shots. Had he shot five-under, he would have tied with two other players for the final two spots. 

Meaning, the three players would have had a playoff to determine the two players to qualify for the Open Championship. 

Alas, the slow-play warning wasn't the worst part of Garcia's day, as he failed to qualify for the Open. 

This is the second-straight year that Garcia wasn't able to earn his way into the tournament after playing in the Open every year from 1998-2022 (minus the one year the tournament was canceled because of COVID).

Taking the money from LIV Golf is a decision that many players have made, but it comes with consequences. The biggest being that it's much harder to qualify for the major tournaments. 

Garcia is learning that lesson the hard way. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.