Final qualifying for the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon was taking place at four different golf courses Tuesday. Each location had four spots available for those who survived a 36-hole grind.
Down the stretch at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland, Angel Hidalgo was trying to position himself for one of those final slots, with a playoff a likely outcome.
On the 36th hole, standing in the fairway with his wedge, Hidalgo was possibly thinking if he could get it close, maybe he could make birdie and get into a playoff.
But then Hidalgo pulled off the unthinkable, holing his second for an eagle 2 on the closing hole to post a 69 and move into a tie for second at 5 under, leapfrogging those who were bound for a playoff by nailing down a spot of his own.
Sam Hutsby at 8 under led the way at Dundonald but Hidalgo’s 5-under finish was good enough for a tie with amateur Liam Nolan.
Jack McDonald then defeated Daniel Young and Tim Widing to survive the 3-for-1 playoff and advance to Royal Troon.
The 2024 British Open will take place July 18-21.
Sergio Garcia was not so lucky, according to ESPN reports.
Garcia came up two strokes short of qualifying for the 2024 British Open after shooting 71 and 70 over two rounds at Liverpool’s West Lancashire Golf Club, one of four sites hosting final qualifying Tuesday. His score of 3 under tied for sixth, with only four advancing from West Lancashire to Royal Troon.
The 44-year old Garcia, who now plays on the LIV Golf tour, nearly won the British Open in 2007 when he lost to Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in a playoff. Garcia later tied for second at The Open in 2014.
