Garcia secures US Open spot

Sergio Garcia survived a seven-man play-off last night to earn a place in next week’s US Open.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has not missed a major since 1999, found himself having to qualify after falling out of the world’s top 50.

He had rounds of 68 and 67 at Tunica National in Memphis and then gained one of the four remaining spots.

Swede Fredrik Jacobson also made it through with a stroke to spare, while England’s former Walker Cup player Matt Richardson claimed one of four places on offer in an 83-strong field at Summit, New Jersey.

Richardson had back-to-back 69s to finish in second place, a stroke behind American Geoffrey Sisk.

Garcia has still to earn an exemption for next month’s Open at Sandwich, however, and pulled out of the qualifier two weeks ago because of an infected fingernail.