Sergio Garcia failed to qualify for the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon after shooting a final-round 75 at West Lancashire Golf Club on July 2, 2024. The former Masters champion finished seven strokes off the qualifying pace, citing severe nausea caused by food consumed between his two rounds as a primary factor in his performance.
### Why Sergio Garcia Missed the Open Field
Garcia arrived at the 36-hole final qualifying event seeking one of the spots available for golf’s oldest major championship. He began the day with a solid four-under 68, placing him in a competitive position. However, his performance collapsed during the afternoon round.
According to comments made to on-site reporters, Garcia consumed pasta in the player’s lounge between rounds, which he believes caused a significant physical reaction. “I thought maybe have a little pasta and stuff, but for some reason it didn’t sit well with me, and I just felt nauseous the whole front nine,” Garcia stated. He noted that the sickness was severe enough that he considered withdrawing from the tournament after nine holes, though he ultimately decided to finish the round in hopes of a “miracle.”
### Qualifying History and Major Championship Status
The 2024 season marks a notable shift in the major championship schedule for the 44-year-old Spaniard. By failing to advance through the West Lancashire qualifier, Garcia will finish the 2024 major calendar with only one appearance: the Masters, where he finished 52nd.
This is the third time in the last four years that Garcia has attempted to reach the Open Championship through final qualifying. He has not successfully advanced through this route during that period; his appearance in the 2023 Open Championship was secured via a LIV Golf exemption. Garcia, who has finished runner-up at the Open twice in his 26 career appearances, expressed frustration regarding the current qualification process. “When you’re this age and you’re playing 36 holes, you feel like you need to eat a little bit in between the rounds,” Garcia said. “It hurts a lot.”
### Looking Toward the 2025 Season
Following the conclusion of play on Tuesday, Garcia addressed his future path to major championships. He indicated that his primary objective is to improve his Official World Golf Ranking to return to the top 50, which would grant him exemptions into major events and eliminate the need to participate in qualifying tournaments.
“I’m still working hard,” Garcia told reporters. “I felt like today, when I was feeling healthy, when I was feeling well, I felt pretty good.” Despite the physical setbacks, he noted that he hit several quality shots during both rounds when his condition improved.
### Recent Professional Conduct Concerns
Garcia’s 2024 campaign has been marked by disciplinary scrutiny at major events. During the final round at Augusta National in April, he received a code of conduct warning from Masters officials after striking a tee box and a cooler stand with his club. This incident followed a similar outburst at the 2023 Open Championship, where the Spaniard smashed his driver on the second hole during the final round.
The 2024 Open Championship is scheduled to take place at Royal Troon from July 18–21, 2024.