He missed Sergio Garcia’s 3-foot putt, which cost him a spot in the Open Championship.
Garcia, a stop on the Asia Tour, who played Sunday in the final round of China’s International Series Macau, had to finish in the top three to qualify for the Royal Portrush Open. However, a short putt mistake on No. 18 at Macau Golf and Country Club made him fourth.
Garcia shot 65.
Instead, fellow Mexican Garcia Liv golfer Carlos Ortiz and Americans Patrick Reid and Jason Cocrack won three spots available at the opening in Northern Ireland from July 17-20.
Had Garcia made the putt, he would have tied up the cockrack and moved forward based on the tiebreaker.
Garcia, 45, never won the Open, but was runner-up twice (2007, 2014). He played 25 times in the event and most recently made 20 cuts in 2022. He has 10 finishes in the top 10.
He has other opportunities to qualify for the Open as spring progresses.
One way is through his play at Liv Golf. Individual points leaders at the LIV circuit following the LIV Dallas event in June will be qualified. If that leader is already on the field, the open spot will fall to the next eligible player.
Garcia will be third on the individual points list, but his previous two players (female Spaniard John Lahm and Chilean Joaquin Neiman) are already eligible.