Kazuki Higa

A one-stroke victory over Tomoharu Otsuki in June’s BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup not only gave Higa his fourth title on the circuit, but also qualified him for St Andrews.

In addition it lifted him to a career-high 80th on the world rankings. He was only just inside the top 200 when he also captured the Kansai Open in April, again by a single shot from Rikuya Hoshino.

Previous successes came at the 2019 RIZAP KBC Augusta tournament – he took that by five - and last year’s Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup, where he finished two clear of the field.

Prior to those wins he had two successes on the Asian Development Tour, having turned professional in late 2017. They were achieved by six and three-shot margins

His lowest round on his home circuit was a 62 in May’s Golf Partner Pro-am. Although his other three rounds that week were a 65 and two 66s they were good enough only for a tie for fourth, one stroke away from a play-off.