The Open Final Qualifying: Two more LIV Golf players withdraw from 36-hole shootout

Dustin Johnson isn't the only LIV Golf player to withdraw from Final Qualifying for The Open. 

David Puig and Carlos Ortiz are no longer listed in their respective fields at Royal Cinque Ports and Dundonald Links. 

The 36-hole shootout gets underway tomorrow, with 20 spots up for grabs into the final men's major of the year. 

Four qualifiers will take place at Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, Bernham & Berrow and West Lancashire. 

No reason has been given for their withdrawals but in Puig's case he is still likely to have a tee time at Royal Birkdale next month. 

The young Spaniard, 24, is currently 60th in Official World Golf Ranking and although the cut-off is the top 50 he is likely to get into the field as an alternate. 

Their withdrawals mean that Dean Burmester, Branden Grace, Luis Masaveu, Peter Uihlein, Thomas Detry, Caleb Surratt, Anirban Lahiri, Marc Leishman, Sergio Garcia and Miguel Tabuena are the only LIV Golf players attempingt to qualify for the 2026 Open. 

The aforementioned Johnson, 42, pulled out of Final Qualifying on Sunday. 

It means the American, a former world number one, will miss The Open for the first time since 2008. 

Bob Harig of The Daily Drive was the first to report news Johnson's withdrawal, citing that his decision came down to a matter of logistics after speaking to his agent.

"Dustin Johnson was said to be on the fence about Final Qualifying for The Open and has apparently decided not to go," Harig wrote on X.

His absence ends a remarkable run of consecutive appearances at The Open.

He had qualified automatically in recent years thanks to exemptions, but those have now expired following his 2020 Masters victory.

While the decision may come as a surprise given Johnson's pedigree, his record in the majors has declined since joining LIV Golf in 2022.

Johnson has managed just one top-20 finish in his last 15 major starts. 

This season he finished tied 33rd at The Masters, tied 44th at the PGA Championship and tied 32nd at the U.S. Open.

There have, however, been signs that Johnson's game is moving in the right direction. 

The 4Aces GC captain recorded back-to-back top-five finishes at LIV Golf Korea and LIV Golf Andalucia heading into the summer.

Harig later revealed he had spoken with Johnson's agent, who said the decision to skip Open qualifying was driven largely by scheduling rather than form.

"I saw his agent at the U.S. Open and it was simply the logistics," Harig wrote. 

"You go there for 36 holes. Then what? Go home for two weeks to return. LIV not playing over there doesn't help."

LIV Golf is currently on an extended break and will not resume until its UK event at JCB Golf & Country Club later in July, leaving Johnson facing multiple transatlantic trips if he had successfully earned one of the five qualifying places available at Dundonald.

This year's Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since Jordan Spieth produced one of the most memorable final-round performances in modern Open history to lift the Claret Jug in 2017.

Scottie Scheffler is the reigning Open champion.