Matthias Schmid

The back-to-back European Amateur champion earned the Silver Medal at The 149th Open, equalling the record for the lowest round by an amateur along the way.

Schmid shot 65 on a Friday to remember at Royal St George's, matching Tom Lewis at the same course a decade earlier, and steady rounds over the weekend saw him finish four clear of the next best amateur. He turned professional immediately afterwards.

His first European Amateur success came in Austria by three strokes from Scot Euan Walker and he then retained the trophy by the same margin from fellow German Nick Bachem in Switzerland, holding at least a share of the lead after each of the four rounds to earn a second appearance at The Open.

He missed the halfway cut by four at Royal Portrush in 2019 on what was also his first start in a European Tour event. Previous European Amateur champions include Ryder Cup quartet Sergio Garcia, Stephen Gallacher, Rory McIlroy and Victor Dubuisson, but England’s Ashley Chesters (2013-14) is the only other player to make a successful defence. 

He has attended the University of Louisville and in the 2019-20 season had a 69.91 scoring average, the second best in their history.