Graeme McDowell misses out on Open Championship

Graeme McDowell will not be part of the Irish contingent at the Open Championship after failing to come through final qualifying.

McDowell, who tied for fifth back in 2012 in his best result at the major, carded rounds of 72 and 68 to finish on four-under-par in the 36-hole event at West Lancashire.

Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal Porthcawl were also in use as four fields of 72 competed for just 19 berths at the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool later this month.

McDowell's fellow LIV Golf rebel Sergio Garcia, who finished joint second behind Rory McIlroy the last time Royal Liverpool staged the Open in 2014, will be absent from the tournament for the first time since 1997 after rounds of 67 and 71 at West Lancashire.

"I haven't really missed many majors since turning pro in 1999, just one because of Covid and the PGA a couple of months ago and unfortunately I’m going to miss this one," Garcia said.

"It’s a shame but it’s the game. I felt I had it close, in the grasp of my hand, but that’s what it is. If you don’t even come here you can’t get disappointed because you are not even trying. I was trying and unfortunately it just wasn’t good enough."

Playing alongside Garcia, Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan carded rounds of 65 and 69 to finish a shot behind leading qualifier Matt Wallace, who recorded rounds of 68 and 65 to end up 11-under.

South Africa’s Kyle Barker, England’s Alex Fitzpatrick and German amateur Tiger Christensen secured the other qualifying places at West Lancashire.

Martin Rohwer, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace all qualified on a good day for South Africans at Royal Cinque Ports. Belgium's Thomas Detry and Antoine Rozner of France joined them.

The English trio of Laurie Canter, Brandon Robinson