Sergio Garcia reacts to booking spot in The Open through LIV Golf's standings

Sergio Garcia says he's excited about making his first appearance in The Open since 2022. 

Garcia went into the breakaway tour's stop in Dallas last week with his appearance in the final men's major of the year in doubt. 

The Spaniard decided not to enter Final Qualifying and instead put all of his eggs in one basket to secure his spot at Royal Portrush. 

In February, the R&A extended an olive branch to the PIF-backed league by announcing the leading player in the top five of LIV's individual standings would punch their ticket to The Open.

Garcia was ranked fourth and only Sebastian Munoz or Lucas Herbert could have leapfrogged him.  

Despite finishing 25th at Maridoe Golf Club, Garcia did enough to seal his return. 

It means that Garcia will make his 102nd major appearance and 26th start in The Open. 

"It's going to be my second time playing at Royal Portrush, and it's obviously nice," Garcia said.  

"It's one of the goals that you have at the beginning of the year, to try to play as many majors as you can with the limitations that we get. 

"I didn't help myself very much the last three months, but I'm glad that I got enough work done in the first third of the year, I guess, in the first part of the season.

"I'm excited about it, and hopefully I'll play well."

Garcia will now turn his attentions to the BMW International Open in Munich. 

The tournament, played over 3-6 July, represents Garcia's first start on the DP World Tour since the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September 2022. 

Garcia resigned from his home circuit in May 2023 after an arbitration panel found in favour of the DP World Tour over their right to fine and suspend LIV Golf players. 

The golfer has now re-joined the Tour after paying off fines thought to be in the region of £1m. 

Garcia now needs an excellent performance at The Open if he is to have any chance of earning a captain's pick from Luke Donald for the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Which LIV Golf players are in Final Qualifying?

The aforementioned Herbert will now make a mad dash across the pond for Final Qualifying. 

The Australian is one of 14 LIV Golf players trying to punch their ticket into next month's Open. 

Final Qualifying will be played over four different sites over 36 holes. 

Jinichiro Kozuma, Caleb Surratt, Anirban Lahiri, Sam Horsfield, Andy Ogletree, Harold Varner III, Lee Westwood, Adrian Meronk, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, David Puig, Dean Burmester and Peter Uihlein are the LIV players taking part.