The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon is almost upon us and, as ever with the oldest golf Major, there’s a stacked field set to compete for the Claret Jug.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is favorite to win the title but Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Aberg are also highly fancied – and that’s not mentioning another 80-or-so players who could easily go on to be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.
There will be a field of 156 teeing it up to start the week, but which big names won’t be there? We take a look at some stand-out players who haven’t managed to qualify this time around…
Sergio Garcia
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The Spaniard misses his second successive Open after coming up two strokes shy in Final Qualifying at West Lancs. Garcia also came up short at the English links course last year, which resulted in his first missed Open since 1997.
The 2017 Masters champion somehow is yet to win The Open in his career despite posessing a natural ability to shape the ball both ways and hit it high and low on demand.
He most famously missed out at Carnoustie in 2007, when he lipped out a putt to win and eventually lost to Padraig Harrington in a playoff. He was also T2nd to Rory McIlroy in 2014 at Royal Liverpool.
He’ll no doubt try to qualify again next year, though, so we’re surely set to see him tee it up in an Open Championship again.
Patrick Reed
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Patrick Reed misses his first Open Championship since 2013 after his exemption ran out from his 2018 Masters victory.
Reed had a run of 41 consecutive Majors that ended at the US Open last month, with his next Major set to be The Masters – where he is in for life.
The Texan has made nine Open appearances, with a 10th-place in 2019 at Royal Portrush being his best finish.
Talor Gooch
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The LIV Golf 2023 champion made just one Major appearance in 2024 at the PGA Championship, where he received an invitation.
Despite three wins on the 54-hole circuit last year, his world ranking continues to plummet and he decided not to attempt to qualify for the US or ‘British’ Opens this year.
Gooch has played in the last three Opens, with his best finish of T33 coming in his debut in 2021 at Royal St George’s.
Richard Bland
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Richard Bland…
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