Carlos Ortiz Punches Ticket To 2026 Masters & 2026 U.S. Open With Best-Ever Major Finish By A Mexican Golfer

No LIV Golf player did better at Oakmont than Torque GC’s Carlos Ortiz, whose fourth-place finish was the best performance ever by a Mexican golfer in a major. It also marked the first top-10 finish by a Mexican golfer in a major since 1972. Ortiz’s strong showing also punched his ticket to the 2026 Masters and U.S. Open, where he’ll have more opportunities to secure his first major victory and prove he belongs among the game’s elite.

Ortiz Was ‘Disappointed’ Despite Historic U.S. Open Finish

Despite the accomplishment, Ortiz was a little disappointed after securing the lead with just five holes to go. 

Things unraveled suddenly in difficult conditions in the final round, as a double-boey on the 15th hole sent him out of contention at +3. Ortiz would make par on the final three holes to finish in the top-five but was visibly shaken once the tournament was over.

When asked what happened down the stretch, Ortiz was candid about his performance. “Oakmont happened,” he replied. “Hit a bad drive, and then on my third shot, I hit it a bit thin. It was really hard to get clean contact with the fairway that wet.”

After another reporter brought up his historic accomplishment, Ortiz didn’t hold back his emotions but acknowledged the significance of his performance.

“I mean, it’s good obviously,” Ortiz admitted. “It was a great week, but obviously, I’m a bit disappointed right now.” 

Ortiz Will Play At The Open, 2026 Masters & 2026 U.S. Open

Ortiz finished tied with fellow LIV Golf star Tyrell Hatton, who also finished four shots behind eventual winner J.J. Spaun. Both golfers took home a healthy $876,869, not bad for a consolation prize, but far from the outcome they had envisioned. Still, that’s not the only thing they left Oakmont with.

It’s been quite the journey for Ortiz, who had just one win on the PGA Tour before taking his talents to the LIV Golf League. Like other LIV Golf players, Ortiz has had to deal with the fact that his Official World Golf Ranking has been plummeting since joining LIV Golf. Currently ranked 113th in the world, Ortiz is much better than that number might suggest.

Prior to leaving the PGA Tour, Ortiz won the 2020 Houston Open and has since added a few international wins on his resume, but none of those carry quite the same weight as his performance last weekend. 

Last year, Ortiz was vocal about being left out of the field, saying that he “deserved” to be the in U.S. Open. A year later, he left no doubt in Final Qualifying and secured exemptions to the 2026 Masters and the 2026 U.S. Open with his performance at Oakmont. 

Ortiz will also be playing in The Open at Royal Portush, thanks to his International Series Macau victory in March. 

Oakmont may not have ended the way he wanted, but it might just mark the start of something bigger for Ortiz. His finish wasn’t just historic for Mexican golf, it was his breakthrough moment on the major championship stage. Now 34 years old and entering what could be the prime of his career, Ortiz is beginning to make a name for himself on golf’s biggest stage.