Francesco Laporta

Francesco Laporta was one of three players to qualify for Royal Birkdale at the Investec South African Open Championship in March.

Three places were on offer at the event as part of the Open Qualifying Series (OQS) and, like winner Casey Jarvis and fellow runner-up Frederic Lacroix, Laporta did enough to ensure he'd be teeing it up in Southport this summer.

Laporta spent much of his early life with family in South Africa, and it was there he first picked up a golf club.

He currently plays on the DP World Tour having won three times on the Challenge Tour, the first of which being the 2019 Hainan Open.

This summer at Royal Birkdale will represent his Open debut.