There was simply a better player – Garcia

Seven years ago the Ryder Cup star was centimetres from winning the Claret Jug at Carnoustie when his putt at the last brushed the edge of the hole and dropped him into a play-off, which he eventually lost to Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.

On that occasion he began the final round three shots clear of the field but, in the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, where in 2006 he played in the last group with Tiger Woods but fell out of contention after four bogeys in his first nine holes, he began seven shots back.

Garcia carded a six-under 66 but it was not enough to reel in a significant advantage held by Rory McIlroy, who went on to win his third major by two strokes.

“Everybody looks at you as second and they want to make it a negative. Not at all,” said the 34-year-old, who finished joint second with American Rickie Fowler on 15 under. “I felt like I played well. I felt like I did almost everything I could and there was a better player. It’s as simple as that.

“All these weeks help in majors – even if you don’t win, they still help.

“Obviously there’s some negative things and obviously my bogey on 15 is not nice but I try to look at the positives.

“There’s always a lot more positives than negatives and that to me is where I want to take it.”

Twice Garcia whittled McIlroy’s advantage down to two but the key moment came at the shortest hole on the course when the Spaniard dumped his approach shot into a greenside bunker and failed to get out with his first attempt, costing him a bogey.

That gave McIlroy, stood watching back on the tee, a three-shot advantage again and when Garcia did not hole his 30-foot eagle attempt at the par-five 16th the game was up.

“Two shots was the closest I got but it is difficult when you’re in a situation where you know you can’t make a mistake,” added Garcia.