Erik van Rooyen

Began his Open Championship debut with a four under par 67 at Carnoustie last July to lie joint second, eventually finishing tied 17th and missing out on an exempt spot in this year’s field by a mere two strokes.

He then had to wait until June 23 to secure his place at Royal Portrush off the European Tour “Race to Dubai” rankings, having tied for second in both the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Hassan Trophy as well as posting a superb tie for eighth on his first appearance at the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in May.

Third on the 2017 European Challenge Tour in November, his Carnoustie start came as a result of inishing runner-up to India’s Shubhankar Sharma in the co-sanctioned Joburg Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series. After attending the University of Minnesota and winning the state amateur championship van Rooyen turned professional in 2013.

His first victory in the paid ranks came on his home Sunshine Tour early in 2017 at the Eye of Africa PGA Championship when a closing birdie put him into a three-man play-off and an approach to within a foot at the first extra hole gave him the title.