Joost Luiten

Did not have a place in this year’s Open until a second place finish at the BMW International Open in Germany on June 25. It catapulted him from 22nd on this season’s DP World Tour money list to 10th and meant he took the first of five Hoylake places available to non-exempt players that day.

The performance was tinged with disappointment, however, as he led for most of the final day until three-putting the short 17th, where winner Thriston Lawrence had birdied moments before.

Luiten is a six-time winner on the circuit since producing a spectacular finish as the Netherlands became world amateur team champions in South Africa in 2006, playing the last five holes in six under par.

His first tour success came five years later in Malaysia, then two years after that he added both the Lyoness Open in Austria and KLM Open on home soil. Also captured the Wales Open in 2014 and the KLM Open again in 2016 - it was achieved with a closing 63.

Represented his country at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and helped Continental Europe beat Britain and Ireland in the 2013 Seve Trophy, winning all four games with Gregory Bourdy.