John Catlin

Winner of three titles on the DP World Tour, but his first major appearance did not come until last year’s PGA Championship after a climb into the world’s top 80, while his Open call-up for Sandwich came only late on when 2001 champion David Duval withdrew. He was originally the eighth reserve.

This time he guaranteed himself a start with a joint fourth place finish in the Horizon Irish Open on July 3.

Three spots at St Andrews were up for grabs as part of the Open Qualifying Series, but top three Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox and Thriston Lawrence were already exempt.

The Californian turned professional in 2013 and began playing on the PGA Tour Canada, but it was when he switched to the Asian Development Tour that he enjoyed his first two victories.

Then came four successes on the main Asian circuit, while in 2020 he won the Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters and three weeks later added the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by three after a closing 64.

His third triumph came last season at the Austrian Open, where he beat Maximillian Kieffer at the fifth play-off hole.