U.S. Open Qualifying: Sergio Garcia Earns Spot Through Sectional Qualifier

When Tiger Woods decided not join the field at the 2011 U.S. Open, he opened the field up for one lucky golfer. That lucky golfer is former Rice University golfer Michael Whitehead.

Whitehead went from having a pretty bad week or having a really good extremely quickly. Whitehead’s shot at playing the U.S. Open seemed over when he finished his 36-hole round at the Monday qualifier at Dallas Athletic Club with a disappointing finish on the first playoff hole.

Sergio Garcia took advantage of sectional qualifying for the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club from June 16-19 on Monday, earning his spot at a sectional qualifier in Memphis.

Garcia shot a 68 and a 67 to snag one of the 10 spots available at Memphis’ Tunica National course and ensure himself a spot at the 2011 U.S. Open later this month. It will extend his string of consecutive U.S. Opens played to 12; he has been a part of every U.S. Open field since 2000, tying for third in 2005 and missing the cut in 2006 and 2007.

Monday morning, one of the greatest traditions in American sports continues: sectional qualifying for the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club from June 16-19 starts tomorrow.

This year, U.S. Open sectional qualifying will take place at 11 sectional qualifiers: Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, Calif.; Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fla.; Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga.; St. Charles Country Club in St. Charles, Ill.; Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md.; Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J.; Brookside Country Club and The Lakes Country Club in Columbus, Ohio; Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio; Tunica National in Memphis; Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course in Dallas; and the Gold Mountain Golf Club’s Olympic Course in Bremerton, Washington.