LIV Golf’s Sergio Garcia fumes at Open qualifying chiefs after he’s slapped with warning

Sergio Garcia, a prominent name in golf, experienced a turbulent qualifying round for The Open, which led to a heated exchange with R&A officials. The Spaniard, who lost his automatic exemption to The Open due to his affiliation with LIV Golf, was required to participate in the qualifying tournament to secure his spot.

Garcia’s frustration was evident as he navigated the course, accompanied by a sizable and enthusiastic crowd. He voiced his displeasure with the R&A officials, criticizing the organization of the spectators and asserting that it was causing unnecessary delays. “It needs to be organized better,” Garcia remarked in frustration.

The incident that sparked Garcia’s ire occurred on the eighth hole. Course marshals had directed the crowd to the left side, causing a delay that forced Garcia to wait on the tee box. This disruption seemed to impact his concentration, resulting in a wayward shot to the left, adding to his agitation as he made his way down the fairway.

Garcia was subsequently issued a warning for slow play, which he attributed to the crowd’s interference. His frustration reached a boiling point, and he responded to the officials with a sarcastic comment, “You’re right, we’re always wrong.”

This was not Garcia’s first time at this particular qualifying venue in Wirral; he had attempted to qualify there the previous year but failed to secure a spot in The Open after 36 holes. Reflecting on that experience, Garcia had expressed gratitude for the support from the fans, remarking on the impressive turnout and their enthusiastic support despite his failure to make the cut. He had stated, “I’m sure that a lot of the people who were following me today would’ve loved to have seen me at Hoylake, but hopefully, I’ll be back soon.”

Garcia’s track record includes 24 consecutive appearances in The Open, a streak that began in 1998 and ended last year when he failed to qualify. Determined to make amends this time, he is aiming to secure one of the four available spots at West Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler has emerged as the early favorite to win The Open, having had a remarkable year with six PGA Tour victories out of ten attempts in 2024. Rory McIlroy, who is recovering from a disappointing final round at the US Open, is also among the key contenders hoping for a strong performance.