After missing last year’s Open Championships, Sergio Garcia is attempting to get into this year’s event through local qualifying at West Lancashire Golf Club.
Since 1998, Garcia has made 24 starts at the Open, missing just four cuts and totaling 12 top-20 finishes, 10 of which were top 10s. His career-best finish came at Carnoustie in 2007 where he earned the silver medal. He finished T-68 in his most recent appearance, during the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
But on Tuesday, Garcia’s group was flagged by officials with a slow-play warning.
Garcia, through a Tweet from Bunkered’s Ben Parsons, can be heard snapping back at the officials by saying, “You’re always right, we’re always wrong.”
For context, Garcia not happy that he’s been put on the clock when it’s taking marshals “3-4 minutes” to move fans walking on his line on tee shots. https://t.co/doiWXY2UO6
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024
To be fair, Garcia’s complaint was that his group repeatedly had to wait because officials were having an issue clearing people out of the way, and his contention appears true by various images and videos.
Also, his group was one of 10 to be put on the clock, according to Parsons.
Garcia not happy with this pull on 17 but he’s recovered brilliantly from the sand to save par. He’s level and four back.
His group are one of 10 on the clock here @WestLancsGC. pic.twitter.com/DFRvlJks9l
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024
Garcia had mentioned before his round that playing in qualifiers offers a “unique perspective,” and added that it “drives you to give even more when you qualify.”
Going through qualifiers gives a unique perspective. It’s tough but I enjoy the challenge. Direct qualification is ideal, but competing for limited spots makes you value it more. With so few spots, like The Open's 72 players competing for 5-6 spots, you realize how hard it is to…
— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) July 2, 2024
Of course, Garcia has had issues with officials before, including one at the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship, when Garcia blew his tee shot way left of the 10th fairway into a hazard. After several minutes of searching, he finally found his ball.
A rules official said he took too long. The official said he started the timer once Garcia arrived at the general location of his golf ball, while the Spaniard argued it should have started once he crossed the river as he knew his ball was on the other side and he was just looking for a way to cross.
Despite his persistence, Garcia was forced to take a drop.
After waving his hand in disgust, he said under his breath, “I can’t wait to leave this tour.”
His rant would continue.
“Can’t wait to get outta here. … just a couple more weeks until I don’t have to deal with you anymore.”
He left for LIV Golf soon after.