Brandon Robinson Thompson

Teed off in the 36-hole Final Qualifying competition at Royal Porthcawl on July 4 ranked 833rd in the world, but with 72 players battling for just five Hoylake places he emerged in second spot on four under par.

“To qualify for The Open is the biggest achievement in my life,” he said. “All I remember about Hoylake is watching Tiger Woods hitting rippers around there to win. Playing at Royal Porthcawl is great preparation for the test that lies ahead.”

He had a win and a runner-up finish on the EuroPro Tour last season and has also competed on the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica and in Africa and Asia, winning in Egypt on the MENA Tour this February and following that with three successive top 10s.

Has also had two wins on the third-tier Clutch Tour this year, the second of them at Ballymena in Ireland on June 25 after opening with a seven under par 63. It booked him a place in the DP World Tour’s ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland next month.

Robinson Thompson attended the University of South Carolina on a scholarship, majoring in marketing.