Bud Cauley

Bud Cauley plays his first Open since 2013, and seven years on from a car crash in which he suffered serious injuries.

Complications from the accident took him away from the PGA Tour for three years and included a series of operations.

After feeling healthy enough to return and he has made it back into the top 60 this year, and with that came the news that he had secured a place at Royal Portrush.

He was joint sixth at the Players Championship, fourth and fifth on his next two starts and then third on his own in late May at the Charles Schwab Challenge, three strokes behind winner Ben Griffin.

Back in his amateur days he participated in the 2006 Junior Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, then the 2009 Walker Cup while still a teenager, being unbeaten in America’s victory and partnering Rickie Fowler to two foursomes wins.

Brian Harman, Champion Golfer two years ago, was also in that team.