LIV Golfer Qualifies For The Open With Second Pro Win After Only Just Making The Cut On Friday
One of Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC protégés has booked his spot at Royal Troon this summer with victory at the Malaysian Open
Fireballs GC's David Puig has become the latest LIV golfer to book his spot at The Open Championship after winning the Malaysian Open by two shots on Sunday.
Promising Spaniard, Puig follows the likes of Joaquin Niemann and Dean Burmester in securing a highly-coveted tee time at the 152nd Open in July via one of the Open Qualifying Series events.
South African, Burmester lifted the Joburg Open in November to seal his place at Royal Troon while the Chilean golfer won the Australian Open a week later to do the same.
Not content with sneaking in to The Open via a second or third-place result, Puig left nothing to chance by winning this week's Asian Tour event on 23-under at The Mines Resort & Golf Club. His triumphant total of just 261 arrived courtesy of consecutive 62s across his bogey-free third and final rounds.
However, for large parts of Friday it appeared as though Puig would miss out on his aim of qualifying for The Open after hovering around the cutline. However, the 22-year-old eventually squeezed through to the weekend on the number.
And in prime scoring conditions at The Mines, Puig put his foot down and drove off into the sunset to ensure his dream became a reality. By winning the Seagram Trophy, Puig followed in the footsteps of some of his LIV peers, such as Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen. Vijay Singh has also won this event.
Speaking to the Asian Tour's media team, Puig said: “It feels great, weird feeling for sure. We almost missed the cut. I was kind of playing good, but I kind of messed up.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"We actually finished round two good, and the weekend was just insane man. I mean 18 birdies, no bogeys, in 36 holes was unbelievable. And getting that Open spot is super cool, I came here for that.”
The 22-year-old, who claimed just his second professional victory out in Malaysia after coming from three back on Sunday, was joined by Jeunghun Wang and Denwit Boriboonsub after Wang shot a final-round 61 to claim the second qualifying place on 21-under-par.
Meanwhile, Boriboonsub took the final qualifying place courtesy of his higher position in the Official World Golf Ranking after finishing in a tie for third place with America's John Catlin on 20-under-par.
Joburg Open | Dean Burmester | Darren Fichardt | Dan Bradbury |
Australian Open | Joaquin Niemann | Rikuya Hoshino | Min Woo Lee |
Malaysian Open | David Puig | Jeunghun Wang | Denwit Boriboonsub |
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
How Many Points Has Each Player Won At The Team Cup?
Great Britain & Ireland are closing in on victory against Continental Europe at the Team Cup – here is how each player has performed ahead of the Sunday singles
By Mike Hall Published
-
Former Amateur No.1 Becomes LIV Golf Reserve After Strong Promotions Event Showing
Ollie Schniederjans will be a LIV Golf reserve in 2025, while he'll also play on the Asian Tour's International Series
By Mike Hall Published
-
Former Amateur No.1 Becomes LIV Golf Reserve After Strong Promotions Event Showing
Ollie Schniederjans will be a LIV Golf reserve in 2025, while he'll also play on the Asian Tour's International Series
By Mike Hall Published
-
How Would A LIV Golf Major Pathway Work?
The Golf Monthly team ponder how many players from LIV Golf should be allowed direct access into the four Majors
By Paul Higham Published
-
'I’m Excited For The New Opportunity And To See Where My Game Takes Me' - Former LIV Golf Winner Eyes PGA Tour Card After League Departure
After being dropped by LIV Golf's Fireballs GC, Eugenio Chacarra revealed his target is set firmly on the PGA Tour going into the future
By Matt Cradock Published
-
LIV Golf’s Thomas Pieters On What He Misses About The DP World Tour And Why No More Majors Is ‘Fine By Me’
Despite plying his trade on the LIV Golf League, it appears that there are still aspects the Belgian misses about his former employer, the DP World Tour
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Sergio Garcia Signs Young Spaniard To LIV Golf Team
US Amateur semi-finalist Luis Masaveu has joined Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC team in the LIV Golf League
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Joaquin Niemann Backs Tougher Version Of Kevin Na’s LIV Golf Major-Pathway Idea
The IronHeads captain called for LIV winners and the season's top-16 players to receive Major exemptions, and his Torque peer agreed to a certain extent...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The 5 Golfers To Have Dropped Out Of The LIV Golf League
Take a look at the players that will miss out on playing for millions this year after dropping out of the LIV Golf League
By Paul Higham Published
-
Watch Amateur Golfer Make Hole-In-One Over Bryson DeChambeau's House - And Pocket $100K
Bryson DeChambeau offered one amateur golfer $100,000 to make the same hole-in-one over his house that went viral - and he did it with ease
By Paul Higham Published