Connor Graham

Connor Graham was one of the favourites to claim a start at Royal Portrush, as well as next year’s Masters and US Open, when he led the stroke play stage of the Amateur Championship for the second year in a row at Royal St George's.

But the 18-year-old from Blairgowrie, who two years ago at St Andrews became the youngest player ever to appear in the Walker Cup, then came up against American Ethan Fang and the world’s seventh-ranked amateur birdied the last two holes to stay alive, won at the 20th and went on to take the title.

On 1 July, however, Graham sank an eight-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to beat fellow Scot Paul O’Hara and take the last of the five Open spots available in the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at Dundonald Links.

“It was a long day but I’m delighted,” he said of Final Qualifying heroics.

“It’s a pretty special feeling to be able to come here and qualify. Playing in The Open has been a dream of mine for a long time and being able to go there and play this year will be pretty cool.”

Son of a former professional, he won the R&A Junior Open at Monifieth in 2022, was a member of Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup side in Italy two years ago and was still only 16 when he claimed the Scottish open stroke play crown against a field which included his older brother Gregor.

Was ranked 214th when selected for the Walker Cup, but went into The Open qualifier 40th.