Mackenzie Hughes

Mackenzie Hughes was in danger of missing out on Royal Portrush until a runner-up finish at May’s ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, where he and Harry Higgs lost a play-off to Ryan Fox’s chip-in birdie.

It lifted him from 56th to 44th on the world rankings just two weeks before the top 50 earned exemptions.

He tied for sixth on his debut in the Championship at Royal St George's in 2021 and came joint 16th last summer at Royal Troon, having qualified with a tie for seventh in his home RBC Canadian Open. Three places were on offer as part of the Open Qualifying Series, but five of the players who finished ahead of him were already exempt.

Was joint 54-hole leader at the 2021 US Open, twice a winner of the Canadian amateur title and prior to turning professional part of the three-man national side which tied for sixth at the 2012 Eisenhower Trophy world team championship.

Like 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis attended Kent State University in Ohio. Has won on the Canadian Tour, Web.com Tour and PGA Tour – the 2016 RSM Classic after a five-man play-off. It was only his fifth start as a member of the circuit and catapulted him from 287th on the world rankings to 110th.