Matthew Southgate

Joint 12th when The Open was last staged at Royal Troon in 2016 – the year after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer - and was in a tie for sixth the following year at Royal Birkdale.

Southgate also finished in the top 25 at Hoylake last summer and is back for another try after surviving the 36-hole Final Qualifying competition for a remarkable fifth time at Royal Cinque Ports on July 2.

In fact, he did far more than just survive it – he dominated with rounds of 71 and 67 to win by three.

"I'm over the moon," said the tearful 35-year-old. "That was a real test of links golf. It took a lot of patience, a lot of working out. The Open is the absolute best - I can't wait. It just means everything."

Winner of the 2010 St Andrews Links Trophy in his amateur days, he was denied the chance of a maiden DP World Tour victory only by Jon Rahm at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2017 and since then has twice been a runner-up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Victor Perez beat him by a single stroke in 2019 and last October Matt Fitzpatrick triumphed by three.