Sergio Garcia has been knocked down twice at Carnoustie but is confident this is the year he will get back up again as he launches another shot at The Open, writes Charlie Bennett.

The Spaniard was left in tears in 1999 when he missed the cut aged just 19, before missing a ten-foot putt for the title in 2007.

He subsequently lost the play-off to Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, one of 22 top-ten finishes at a major without a trophy.

Finally, he broke through at The Masters last year and, now back at Carnoustie, he has the Claret Jug in his sights.

“I don’t think the course owes me anything,” he said.

“It is what it is. It took me a few days to get over it but I relaxed and had time with family and friends so it is fine.

“You fall, you get up again and go from there. It would be amazing to add the Claret Jug. The Open is one of the most important tournaments and one of my favourites.

“It would be nice to just be able to add to the collection, because of the whole thing. The crowd have always been very good to me and they are very special.”

With 11 years to dwell on that Carnoustie near-miss, Garcia has undoubtedly analysed and re-plotted his route around the course.

But he insists all he needs to do is play exactly the same way again.

“Mostly, it all positives when I think of this place. That is the way I look at it and I want to play the same this year because that will put me in that position again,” he said.

“I can take a lot of confidence from what I did that year but the course is totally different this year. I have a lot of options this year so it is just about finding a gameplan you are comfortable with.

“That’s the key this week, do that and you will probably play some good rounds. “ TheOpen.com is the only place to get all the latest news from The 147th Open at Carnoustie.

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