A mid-round lasagna meal turned a promising qualifier into a nauseous struggle for the former Masters champion, derailing his final push for a spot at Royal Birkdale.
Sergio Garcia’s hopes of returning to The Open Championship came to an unexpected end, and according to the former Masters champion, lunch may have played a bigger role than anyone expected.
Garcia fell short during Final Qualifying at West Lancashire after an impressive start gave him every reason to believe he could secure one of the coveted spots in this year’s field at Royal Birkdale. The LIV Golf veteran opened the 36-hole qualifier with a solid 4-under-par 68, putting himself in contention heading into the afternoon round.
But the momentum quickly disappeared.
Garcia struggled to a second-round 75, finishing the day at 1-under overall, well outside the score needed to advance. Afterward, the 46-year-old revealed he battled stomach issues throughout much of the second round and pointed to the food he ate between rounds as the likely culprit.
"I only ate the lasagna,” Garcia told reporters. "I thought ‘have a little pasta,' but for some reason it didn't sit well with me and I just felt nauseous the whole front nine of the afternoon."
The discomfort became so severe that he briefly considered withdrawing before deciding to continue in hopes that his condition would improve. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, it never did.
The disappointing finish means Garcia will miss The Open Championship once again after failing to play his way into golf’s oldest major. Although he returned to the tournament in 2025, his latest qualifying attempt came up short despite the encouraging opening round.
Garcia’s performance highlighted just how difficult Final Qualifying can be. Players have little room for error over 36 holes, and any physical setback can quickly derail a promising day. Whether the lasagna was truly to blame or simply unfortunate timing, Garcia clearly believed it impacted his chances of making one last push toward qualification.
Even with the setback, Garcia has enjoyed a decorated career that includes a Masters victory, Ryder Cup success, and numerous wins around the world. Still, The Open has remained one of the championships closest to his heart, making this latest disappointment especially frustrating.
Instead of competing for the Claret Jug later this month, Garcia will now turn his attention back to LIV Golf, while reflecting on a qualifying effort that may ultimately be remembered as much for an unfortunate lunch as for the golf itself.
