LIV Golf star’s Open dream crushed by dramatic DQ
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There are a number of LIV players taking part in Open Final Qualifying on Tuesday. For one, though, it ended after just a few holes…
Twelve months ago, Sam Horsfield headed to West Lancs for Open Final Qualifying and cruised to a 6-under total to book a spot at Royal Troon.
It didn’t quite go according to plan this time around, though, as Horsfield’s bid to play in golf’s oldest major for a fourth time ended in rather spectacular fashion on England’s Golf Coast.
Indeed, it lasted just nine holes as the 28-year-old reached the turn in 7-over-par before deciding he’d had enough.
An R&A official confirmed to Bunkered‘s Ben Parsons that he had left the premises.
As he didn’t officially withdraw, Horsfield was subsequently disqualified.
The Englishman, who plays for Majesticks GC alongside co-captains Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, had flown back to the UK just hours after finishing his final round at LIV Golf Dallas. Harold Varner III, Lucas Herbert and Andy Ogletree are the league’s other representatives on the Lancashire coast.
Later, Horsfield posted on his Instagram to “clear some things up”.
He wrote: “So I flew back home Sunday and landed into Heathrow at 4pm. By the time I got up to West Lancs it was late. Had a bit of dinner and fell asleep at 10.30/11.
“At 1am the fire alarm went off and we had to go stand in outside for an hour or so. I eventually got back to sleep around 5.30 for a 6am alarm – which I slept through but fortunately my caddie woke me up.
“I felt completely dizzy and out of it all day.
“See you guys in Valderrama next week.”
Another LIV golfer, Adrian Meronk, also retired after a 3-over 75 for his first 18 at Dundonald. Later in the day, Alex Fitzpatrick, Kieran Vincent and Kazuma Kobori joined Horsfield in walking off at West Lancs.
Elsewhere, Lee Westwood booked a return to The Open for the first time since 2022 after coming through at Dundonald as one of three LIV golfers to come through Final Qualifying.
LI Final Qualifying at the close of play.
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Sam Horsfield was disqualified from Open Final Qualifying after just nine holes.
