Sergio Garcia to miss Open Championship for first time since 1997 after failing to qualify – ‘It’s a shame’

Sergio Garcia will miss the Open Championship after failing to come through qualifying, having taken part in every tournament since 1997.

This year’s tournament takes place at Royal Liverpool for the first time since 2014, where Garcia was runner-up behind Rory McIlroy.

He competed in this year’s qualifying for one of five remaining spots at a 36-hole event at West Lancashire, but he opened with a score of 67 and then 71, which was not enough to make the cut.

“I haven’t really missed many majors since turning pro in 1999, just one because of Covid and the PGA a couple of months ago and unfortunately I’m going to miss this one,” Garcia said afterwards.

“It’s a shame but it’s the game. I felt I had it close, in the grasp of my hand, but that’s what it is. If you don’t even come here you can’t get disappointed because you are not even trying. I was trying and unfortunately it just wasn’t good enough.”

Matt Wallace, Kyle Barker, Alex Fitzpatrick, Matthew Jordan and German amateur player Tiger Christensen were the five to make their way to the tournament proper.

“Playing in front of my home crowd today was brilliant so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like come two weeks’ time,” Jordan said.

“It was great playing with Sergio, obviously a great player, Masters champion and brilliant off the tee. He obviously brought more people along so I thoroughly enjoyed his company. I cannot wait to get there (Hoylake).”