Sergio Garcia was just inches away from securing his spot in the Open Championship.  He was playing in the final round of the International Series Macau in China.  This was a crucial event on the Asian Tour.  He needed to finish in the top three to qualify for the Open at Royal Portrush.  Unfortunately, a missed 3-foot putt on the 18th hole at the Macau Golf and Country Club changed everything.  This small mistake left him in fourth place.  Garcia had a solid round, shooting a 65, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot in the Open.

Three other LIV golfers, Carlos Ortiz from Mexico and Americans Patrick Reed and Jason Kokrak, secured the available spots for The Open.  The Open Championship is scheduled for July 17-20 in Northern Ireland.  Garcia could have tied with Kokrak and advanced based on a tiebreaker if he had made that putt.  This was a tough break for Garcia, who has a strong history with the Open.  He has played in the event 25 times, making the cut 20 times.  His best finishes were as the runner-up in 2007 and 2014.  He has also had 10 top-10 finishes in the Open.

Garcia still has chances to qualify for the Open as the season progresses.  One way is through his performance in LIV Golf.  The individual points leader on the LIV circuit after the LIV Dallas event in June will qualify.  If the leader is already in the field, the spot goes to the next eligible player.  Garcia is currently third on the individual points list.  However, the two players ahead of him, Jon Rahm from Spain and Joaquín Niemann from Chile, have already qualified.  This means Garcia will need to keep performing well to secure his spot.

The Open Championship is one of the most prestigious events in golf.  It attracts the best players from around the world.  For Garcia, missing out on this opportunity is a setback, but it's not the end of the road.  He has shown resilience and skill throughout his career.  Garcia will likely focus on his next opportunities to qualify.  His experience and determination will be key in his pursuit of the Open Championship.

A Missed Putt Keeps Sergio Garcia Out of the Open

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