The meritocracy of golf is never on display more than at major championship qualifying.
Every year, numerous aspiring individuals vie for a spot in either the U.S. or British men’s opens, both of which attract a considerable number of touring professionals. Despite their backgrounds, all hopefuls have an equal opportunity to secure one of the limited slots available. During these select days of the golf season, one’s reputation and credentials hold no significance; only the final score determines success.
During the U.S. Open final qualifying in Dallas, Sergio Garcia faced a tough lesson as he narrowly missed out on a spot in the national championship. In a playoff to secure a place in Pinehurst, Garcia unfortunately found himself on the outside looking in.
The tale starts on the 16th hole at Dallas Athletic Club, where the initial of 11 final U.S.-based qualifiers took place. Despite being at five under for the day and securing one of the 11 qualifying spots, Garcia’s luck turned when he double-bogeyed, dropping him to three under and amidst a crowded leaderboard. He finished at three under in the clubhouse, joining six other players in the field at that score, with only six U.S. Open spots left.
In the first hole, a seven-for-six playoff took place, with Garcia being the sole player to make a bogey, making him the first (and only) loser of the playoff. Despite 37 holes of intense golf, the former Masters champion fell just short, with his only consolation being named the first-alternate.
Among the LIV pros, Garcia, 44, has witnessed a decline in his World Golf Ranking points and major championship status after switching to the rival tour. He was one of the non-exempt LIVers who participated in the final qualifying round in Dallas, alongside his compatriot Eugenio Chacarra, who finished T2 and secured a spot in the U.S. Open.
This U.S. Open is June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2.
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