Daniel Hillier

Conjured up a sensational finish to the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry in July 2023 and not only grabbed his first DP World Tour title, but took the first of three places on offer as part of The Open Qualifying Series.

Hillier eagled the long 15th from 40 feet, became joint leader with a birdie at the 16th after finding sand off the tee, then fired his approach to the par-five 17th to six feet for another eagle.

He made his Open debut two years ago after winning the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at Hollinwell, equalling the course record with an opening 64 that contained 10 birdies and adding a 69.

His first major was actually the 2019 US Open. Still an amateur at the time he made it through qualifying at Walton Heath for that. By then he had already won two New Zealand amateur championships and a string of junior titles.

He was then co-medallist in the stroke play stage of the 2018 US Amateur – also at Pebble Beach and eventually won by Norway’s Viktor Hovland – and at the Eisenhower Trophy world team championships in Ireland later the same season New Zealand came fourth and he tied for third in the individual standings.