LIV Golf Stars Gear Up for Final Qualifying of The Open Championship
Next week, 18 prominent LIV Golf players are set to compete in the Final Qualifying for The Open Championship, but golf legend Sergio Garcia will not be among them. Ian Poulter, a well-known figure in the sport, recently announced his participation in the intense 36-hole event, which will feature several of his fellow LIV colleagues at four different venues across the UK, including Ryder Cup standout Lee Westwood.
In recent years, Open Qualifying has become a popular avenue for LIV players, primarily due to the league’s absence of world ranking accreditation. Garcia, a former Masters champion, has attempted to qualify at West Lancashire Golf Club for the past two years but has narrowly missed the cut on both occasions. This year, however, he is not on the entry list, as he focuses on securing his place in this season’s final major tournament.
Currently, Garcia holds the sole qualifying spot for The Open through the year-long LIV standings, with qualification concluding after LIV Golf Dallas this week. He will need to fend off competition from players like Lucas Herbert, Carlos Ortiz, and Sebastian Munoz to maintain his position. While he is in a favorable spot, the pressure is mounting as he skips the Final Qualifying event, leaving him with no backup plan should he falter in Dallas. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) has confirmed to Mirror US that entry for alternate qualifying routes is now closed.
Despite Garcia’s absence, the Final Qualifying event will still showcase a host of notable LIV Golf talent. Poulter will be joined by his son Luke and fellow Fireballs teammate David Puig at Royal Cinque Ports. Additionally, former Fireballs player Luis Masaveu, along with Graeme McDowell, Dean Burmester, and Peter Uihlein, will also compete.
At Dundonald Links, Lee Westwood, Poulter’s co-captain of the Majesticks, has committed to participating, alongside Adrian Meronk and Branden Grace. The Crushers’ Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri will bolster the LIV presence at Burnham and Berrow. Other competitors include Caleb Surratt, Jinichiro Kozuma, and last year’s qualifier Abraham Ancer.
At West Lancashire, Sam Horsfield aims to replicate his impressive performance from 2024, competing alongside Garcia’s closest rival in the LIV standings, Lucas Herbert, as well as Andy Ogletree and Harold Varner III. The final qualifying round is set for July 1, just three weeks before the coveted Claret Jug makes its way to Northern Ireland.
Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting showdown as these top players vie for a spot in golf’s most prestigious tournament!
