Sergio Garcia RAGES at cameraman after waving goodbye to The Open
LIV Golf's Sergio Garcia calls photographer a "d**k" after missing short putt at Open qualifier.
Sergio Garcia was reportedly back to his usual fiery antics at Open Championship qualifying on Tuesday as he backed off a putt and called a photographer a "d**k", according to the Irish Independent.
Garcia, 43, had opened brightly in the 36-hole qualifier at West Lancashire thanks to a first round of 5-under 67, and he was firmly in the picture for picking up one of five qualification spots when playing his first five holes of the second round in 3-under par.
But the wheels quickly came off for Garcia with a sloppy bogey on the 7th and he compounded that error with another dropped shot at the 10th.
The Spaniard picked up a shot at the par-5 11th but he would then hand it back with a bogey at the 13th.
Related: Garcia OUT of The Open
Now suddenly on the verge of missing his first Open Championship since 1997, a hot-headed Garcia reached boiling point when he three-putted for par on the par-5 16th.
According to the Irish Independent, Garcia backed off his five-foot birdie attempt on that hole after being disturbed by a photographer at the side of the green.
Garcia went on to miss the putt, and after tapping in for par then trudged off the green calling the cameraman a "d**k".
He then added: "As if it's not frickin' hard enough..."
Garcia ended up signing for a second-round 71 and 6-under par total, which left him three strokes outside of the five qualification spots in The Open.
England's Matt Wallace won the qualifier at West Lancs with a 36-hole total of 11-under.
The recent PGA Tour winner finished one stroke clear of compatriot Matthew Jordan and South Africa's Kyle Barker.
Qualification to The Open is extra special for Jordan, who will now compete on his home course at Royal Liverpool.
It will mark Jordan's second appearance at The Open having missed the cut at St Andrews in 2022.
The 151st Open Championship takes place at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23.
Matt Fitzpatrick's brother Alex Fitzpatrick also picked up one of the five qualification spots at West Lancs when finishing tied fourth on 9-under par alongside German amateur Tiger Christensen.
LIV Golf's Graeme McDowell missed out on a spot in The Open as he finished down the pack on 4-under par.
Garcia and McDowell will now remain in England this week to compete in LIV Golf London at Centurion GC.
McDowell was left perplexed by a reporter's question ahead of the tournament.
After missing out on his first Open Championship since 1997, Garcia said after his 36 holes at West Lancs:
The latest strop from Garcia is unfortunately just another in a long list for the leading European Ryder Cup points scorer.
Earlier this year, Sir Nick Faldo described Garcia as the "most immature player" he has ever witnessed on Tour.
Garcia raged at a reporter at The Masters earlier this year.
Let's relive some of Garcia's finest strops on Tour:
Sergio Garcia SMASHES UP tee box during the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational
Another week, another Sergio strop. What do you make of THIS one from the weekend?!
WATCH https://t.co/aiF0Qx9QCN pic.twitter.com/o1DbDtFGU5— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) July 29, 2019
RIP Sergio’s putter. pic.twitter.com/t74IIdoO68
— Skratch (@Skratch) September 3, 2017
Sergio Garcia’s meltdown in a Royal Greens bunker a day prior to his disqualification for vandalism work on five greens. Story by @SkySportsGolf fills in details. Translations welcomed! https://t.co/UoGmPtTOz4 pic.twitter.com/dQMDN7y2PC
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) February 4, 2019
While Garcia still loves a temper tantrum from time to time, he has at least mended his frosty relationship with Rory McIlroy.
Garcia spoke about that recently:
Sergio Garcia spoke about mending his relationship with Rory McIlroy at the US Open. "I gained a friend back. A friend that I felt like I lost in the last year or so." + "We had a great conversation & I feel like I have that friend back." #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/ROeHhFbYvQ
— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) June 28, 2023
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