Brad Kennedy

Returned to The Open after a nine-year gap last July, but now plays again – at the age of 48 – after finishing third at May’s Mizuno Open in Japan, where four St Andrews places were on offer as part of The Open Qualifying Series.

Earned his 2021 spot by topping the Australian Tour Order of Merit following a dramatic victory in the TPS Victoria, his sixth title on the circuit. A third round 62 included an albatross, but after 18-year-old amateur Elvis Smylie closed with a 63 Kennedy eagled the 16th and struck a seven-iron to three feet for birdie on the last to win by one.

Because of the pandemic it actually meant back-to-back wins for him on the tour. In March 2020 he took the New Zealand Open with a final-day 63.

Kennedy is also a three-time winner in Japan, capturing the 2013 Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open, the Kansai Open the following season and then in 2018 the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup.

His career record includes three runner-up finishes on the DP World Tour, the 2003 and 2004 Malaysian Opens and 2004 Madeira Island Open, where he started with a 10 under 62.