SERGIO Garcia finished as the Open Championship's runner-up for the second time in his career but insisted this near miss was a positive experience.
Seven years ago the Ryder Cup star was centimetres from winning the Claret Jug at Carnoustie only for his putt at the last to brush the edge of the hole and drop him into a play-off, which he lost to 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 (above) carded a six-under 66 but it was not enough to reel in Rory McIlroy. "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. "You don't have to look at other things."