Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia is closing in on securing a place at the Open Championship this year.
The ninth event of the 2025 LIV Golf season is underway in Dallas this week, and Garcia opened up with a round of 74.
This places him in a tie for 33rd ahead of the second round. More importantly, however, is that the Spaniard remains the projected leader to earn an Open Championship exemption.
The leading non-exempt player inside the top five in the season-long points race will receive a spot at Royal Portrush next month.
While it wasn’t the greatest of opening rounds by the 2017 Masters winner, Garcia remains in the top four in the projections.
Two solid rounds on Saturday and Sunday will see him seal a place back at the championship.
Sergio Garcia looks set to qualify for his 26th Open Championship
Garcia’s performances in the LIV Golf league this season have been impressive to say the least.
He won in Hong Kong and led Fireballs GC to team wins in Adelaide, Hong Kong, and Singapore during the opening months of the season.
The Spaniard currently occupies fourth place in the individual standings, and it is due to these early performances that Garcia is closing in on another appearance at the Open.
Not since 2022 at St Andrews has the Ryder Cup icon played in the game’s oldest major championship. A tournament in which he has finished runner-up twice.
The Fireballs GC captain will have some competition regarding the final exemption spot, however.
David Puig shot a first-round 70 to climb into sixth place in the points race, while Abraham Ancer has an outside chance.
“Ever since they announced the exemptions, it’s been in my mind,” Ancer said.
“Obviously you’re always trying to perform the best and be obviously at the highest you can on the leaderboard, on the points list.
“I would definitely love to do really well in the next two rounds and hopefully have a chance for that spot. I know it will be tough, but mathematically it’s a possibility. I’m going to give it my all and see where it takes me.”
As such, Garcia must keep the pressure up in rounds two and three if he wishes to make a stunning return to the Open.
If he does, his appearance at Portrush will come a staggering 29 years since he made his debut at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1996.
