Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

Will Zalatoris has more reason than most to be excited for The 152nd Open.

A back injury ruined 2023 for the richly talented American, ruling him out of all four majors.

However, Zalatoris can look forward to teeing it up at Royal Troon in July after claiming the sole qualifying spot available at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, part of The Open Qualifying Series.

A joint fourth-place finish at Bay Hill was enough for the 27-year-old, with runaway tournament winner Scottie Scheffler, runner-up Wyndham Clark and the third-placed Shane Lowry already exempt for Troon.

Zalatoris, who has regained form impressively after his lengthy lay-off, finished with a level-par 72 on Sunday, enough to share fourth with another already-exempt player in Russell Henley.