Rory Glory

The Northern Irishman joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win three of golf’s modern majors by the age of 25. McIlroy now just has the Masters left to complete a career Grand Slam. “The lead never got less than two shots so I always thought I had a little bit of a cushion. To be three legs towards the grand slam is a pretty good achievement and it feels incredible.” Garcia, still striving to shed the unwanted tag of being one of the best players never to win one of the ‘Big Four’ prizes, pushed the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 U.S. PGA champion all the way before settling for a share of second place.

The Spaniard was right in the hunt until he suffered a calamity at the 161-yard 15th, the shortest hole at Royal Liverpool. Garcia’s tee shot found a deep greenside bunker and he made a heartbreaking bogey four after taking two strokes to get out. He ultimately shared runners-up spot with American Rickie Fowler on 273.

Fowler was always on the fringe of the battle as he closed with a well-crafted 67. Woods, playing among the back markers, ended his campaign with a disappointing three-over 75 for 294, six over.

Garcia has no regrets

Sergio Garcia doffed his cap, patted his heart and blew kisses to the crowd surrounding the 18th green at Royal Liverpool after clinching what ultimately would be a fourth second-place finish at a major. Another close call for golf’s nearly man, but there were no tears and no regrets this time. Just pride at ensuring this was no runaway for winner Rory McIlroy at the British Open.

Garcia says, “Everyone looks at a second (place) and wants to make it a negative, but I did almost everything I could.’’ Starting his final round seven shots back from McIlroy, the Spaniard closed to within two strokes of the Northern Irishman on four occasions over the back nine.

Rusty Tiger Woods confident of Ryder Cup selection

HOYLAKE: Tiger Woods believes he justifies a place in the United States Ryder Cup team despite missing the year’s first two majors through injury and finishing dismally at the British Open on Sunday.

The 14-times major champion is well outside the automatic nine places for the match against holders Europe at Gleneagles in September and may require one of captain Tom Watson’s three wildcard selections. Usually it would be unthinkable that the 38-year-old’s place in the biennial match would be in doubt.

However, after back surgery in March he managed only two competitive rounds in the build-up to this week’s Open at Hoylake and apart from a flurry of back nine birdies on Thursday when he carded a three-under-par 69, he has looked rusty. Woods will need to show a marked improvement over the coming weeks to ensure Watson gives him the go-ahead to play in an eighth Ryder Cup match.

Watson hinted this week that the former world number one would need to qualify for next month’s FedExCup playoff series in order to secure a place. “I’d like to win the next two tournaments I’m in. That should take care of that,” said Woods whose final three rounds at Royal Liverpool were littered with wild tee shots and uncharacteristic mistakes around the greens. The American, who carded a fourth-round 75 Sunday for a six-over total of 294, a figure so far exceeded by only three other players, was adamant he could be a vital cog in Watson’s team.