Since the switch to Saudi Arabia, the majority of LIV Golf members have fallen down the ranks in the Official World Golf Rankings, while a large group has been forced to take part in the Open Qualifiers.
Sergio Garcia takes on the Open Qualifiers (Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Sergio Garcia is one of 15 LIV Golf stars hoping to qualify for this year’s British Open Championship after a final qualifying round at four venues next week.
West Lancashire, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and Burnham & Berrow will host a 36-hole qualifying round next Tuesday (2 July) with participants able to secure a minimum of 16 places at Royal Troon. A number of LIV competitors have made it into the qualifiers amid recent issues with the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
Most notably, former Masters champion Garcia will play in a 36-hole final against the Spaniard on a familiar ground, the West Lancashire course, after narrowly missing out on a place in the 2023 tournament last summer. He missed three shots against Wirral 12 months ago and will be hoping for more success this time around. Garcia won’t be the only LIV star competing in West Lancashire, with Ripper GC star Marc Leishman also in the mix. The best performance by an Australian player at the Australian Open saw him finish second to Zach Johnson in 2015.
Sebastian Munoz, Kieran Vincent, Carlos Ortiz, Jason Kochlak and Sam Horsfield join Garcia and Leishman. The remaining three stadiums will also host members of the breakaway league, with two LIV players, Peter Wickline and Danny Lee, travelling to Scotland to compete at Dundonald Links Stadium.
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Kent will welcome former US Open champion Graham McDowell, a year after the former Englishman failed to make an impact alongside Garcia in West Lancashire. McDawella will join Live’s colleague Evgenio Lopez Cacar. He reserved a place through his qualifications and Branden Grace at the opening of the United States this month.