A total of 18 LIV Golf stars have pledged to participate in next week’s Final Qualifying for The Open Championship, but Sergio Garcia is not among them. Golf icon Ian Poulter announced his plans to compete in the 36-hole event late last week, and he will be joined by a number of his LIV colleagues at four UK venues – including fellow Ryder Cup titan Lee Westwood.
Open Qualifying has become a favoured spot for LIV players in recent years due to the league’s lack of world ranking accreditation. Former Masters champion Garcia has attempted the 36-hole challenge at West Lancashire Golf Club over the past two years, falling just short on both occasions.
This time, his name is absent from the entry list, with the Spaniard undoubtedly aiming to secure his spot in the season’s final major later this weekend. As it stands, Garcia holds the one spot available into The Open via the year-long LIV standings.
Qualification from the breakaway league concludes following LIV Golf Dallas this week, with Garcia hoping to hold off competitors such as Lucas Herbert, Carlos Ortiz, and Sebastian Munoz in the standings. There’s no doubt that the Spaniard is in a strong position, but he still has work to do this weekend.
The Fireballs captain now faces increased pressure, having chosen not to add his name to the Final Qualifying list if he stumbles in Dallas. If Garcia fails to qualify via the LIV setup, there is no alternative route back into qualifying, with the RandA confirming to Mirror US that entry is closed.
Despite Garcia’s absence, a host of big names from the league are set to compete in the demanding two-round event. Poulter, who will also be playing alongside his son Luke, will be joined at Royal Cinque Ports by Garcia’s Fireballs teammate David Puig.
Former Fireballs player, now reserve, Luis Masaveu, is also in the line-up, along with Graeme McDowell, Dean Burmester, and Peter Uihlein. Over at Dundonald Links, Poulter’s Majesticks co-captain Lee Westwood has pledged to participate.
Westwood will also be accompanied by Adrian Meronk and Branden Grace. There will be a strong LIV presence at Burnham and Berrow, with Crushers teammates Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri participating.
Caleb Surratt, Jinichiro Kozuma, and last year’s qualifier Abraham Ancer will also be competing.
At West Lancashire, Sam Horsfield will be aiming to replicate his 2024 heroics, and he will also be joined by Garcia’s closest competitor in the LIV standings, Herbert, as well as Andy Ogletree and Harold Varner III. The final qualifying round will take place on July 1, three weeks before the Claret Jug heads to Northern Ireland.
