Golf villain caught on camera grilling official, claims warning ‘cost’ him $4.5m shot
After joining LIV Golf, Sergio Garcia’s low world ranking means the only major tournament he qualifies for on merit is the US Masters, thanks to his status as a former champion. Despite this setback, Garcia remains a beloved figure, evidenced by the hundreds of spectators who followed him during his recent attempt to qualify for…
After joining LIV Golf, Sergio Garcia’s low world ranking means the only major tournament he qualifies for on merit is the US Masters, thanks to his status as a former champion. Despite this setback, Garcia remains a beloved figure, evidenced by the hundreds of spectators who followed him during his recent attempt to qualify for The Open. However, this popularity came with challenges, as the large crowds caused lengthy delays on each hole, impacting his performance.
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The significant crowd presence led to Garcia’s group receiving a warning for slow play, a decision he felt was unfair and detrimental to his game. Garcia attributed a couple of critical dropped shots to the delays caused by marshals who needed additional time to clear spectators from the course before tee shots could be taken. Golf reporter Ben Parsons highlighted Garcia’s frustrations in a social media post, noting that the delays stemmed from the marshals’ efforts to manage the uncontained crowds.
“It’s very simple,” Garcia told Parsons afterward. “When you have 2,000 people following us with no ropes, nothing. The marshals were trying to do their best, but we had to stop on almost every tee for two-to-three minutes to hit our shots because people were walking in front of the tee and on the fairway. We couldn’t hit unless we wanted to start hitting people. They didn’t take this into account, and it was unfortunate because it made us rush. On a day with tricky conditions, you need a bit of extra time, which we didn’t get, leading to a couple of bogeys that might cost me getting to Troon.”
Despite his best efforts, Garcia carded five bogeys and failed to qualify for The Open, marking the second consecutive year he missed out on a place in golf’s oldest major championship. Garcia finished two strokes short of the top four at the West Lancashire course, echoing the outcome of his previous year’s attempt.
In contrast, England’s Justin Rose, Garcia’s former Ryder Cup teammate and the 2013 US Open champion, successfully secured a spot in The Open. Rose qualified at Burnham Burrow in Somerset, earning one of the four available places. Despite missing the cut in four of his last five majors, Rose remains optimistic about his chances at The Open. He recalls his notable fourth-place finish as a 17-year-old amateur at Birkdale in 1998 and his tie for second at Carnoustie in 2018.
“Right now, I feel a little bit of buzz,” Rose, the 2016 Olympic champion, told Sky Sports. “I guess I came in with a good attitude … I still feel like I can win the Open. To win it, you’ve got to be in it.”
The 152nd Open at Troon, located on the southwest coast of Scotland, will take place from July 18-21. Brian Harman of the United States, who won last year’s title at Hoylake, is set to defend his championship.
