Michael Stewart

Former Walker Cup player Stewart finished with three successive birdies – and four in the last five holes – to win the 36-hole Final Qualifying competition at Dundonald Links on July 4, his seven-under-par total two better than runner-up Marco Penge in the race for the four Hoylake places on offer from a field of 72.

"It was obviously a great day - and great to have so much support out," said the 33-year-old, who is attached to the Troon Welbeck club.

“This morning was really quite tough, but then the wind died a little bit and I'm just absolutely delighted.”

The European Challenge Tour member went into the event ranked 854th in the world and 12 years on from his Walker Cup appearance at Royal Aberdeen, where he was part of the winning Great Britain and Ireland team against an American side including Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Harris English, all of whom will also be at Royal Liverpool.

He almost made it into The Open at Royal St George's that season, losing 3&2 in the final of the Amateur Championship to Australian Bryden Macpherson. Stewart was the Scottish boys' champion in 2008 and winner of the Scottish Amateur two years later.