John Axelsen

John Axelsen claimed the last of the five Royal Portrush places on offer in the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent on 1 July.

His back-to-back rounds of 70 for a four-under-par total saved him from being part of a four-way play-off by a single stroke.

Seven years ago, at Kildare in Ireland, he partnered twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard to Denmark’s first-ever victory at the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team championship, one ahead of an American side containing 2021 Open champion Collin Morikawa and seven clear of a Norwegian line-up which included Viktor Hovland.

At the age of only 16, he competed at Royal Portrush in the Amateur Championship – Robert MacIntyre was the runner-up – and represented Europe at the Junior Ryder Cup, becoming the first Danish boy to do so.

Won two age group titles in England as well as three Danish amateur championships and after attending the University of Florida turned professional in 2020.

Three wins on the 2022 Nordic League enabled him to step up a level and he then came through the DP World Tour qualifying school in seventh spot. In his rookie season, he tied for sixth at the Porsche European Open.