Sergio Garcia’s US Open streak ends in heartbreak

For the first time since 1999, there may be a US Open without Sergio Garcia.

The odds had looked pretty good that the former Masters champion would be competing at Pinehurst No.2 next month.

Garcia fired an opening 66 in a marathon Final Qualifying day at Dallas Athletic Club and looked destined to make it to that famed North Carolina layout.

But a costly double bogey on the par-5 16th later on in the day meant he shot a second round 73, leaving Garcia in a seven-man elimination playoff for the final six spots in the field.

Even then, Garcia would still fancy his chances in a 7-for-6 playoff though, right?

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Unfortunately for Garcia, he was the only player in the playoff to make a bogey on the first hole, ending his 25-year run in heartbreak.

The Spaniard may yet still compete as a listed alternate, but he has agonisingly missed out on a chance to punch his own ticket to Pinehurst.

Garcia wasn’t the only LIV Golf player to come up short in Dallas. Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Anccer, Caleb Surratt, Brendan Steele and Kevin Na also missed out.

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Eugenio Chacarra – Garcia’s Fireballs GC teammate – was the only LIV player to qualify from this site and will make his major debut in June. Patrick Reed’s streak of playing every major since the 2014 Masters ends after he withdrew late on.

Francesco Molinari shot 68-70 to better Garcia’s score by one shot and avoid the pressure playoff. His brother Edoardo, on the other side of the Atlantic, went 67-69 at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey to ensure both Molinaris will be at Pinehurst.

Fellow Italian Matteo Manassero sealed his spot with a second round 65 at Walton Heath, while Englishman Robert Rock was also an unlikely US Open qualifier after retiring from tour golf two years ago.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.