Nico Echavarria

Nico Echavarria was playing only the 11th event of his rookie season on the PGA Tour when he won the 2023 Puerto Rico Open by two strokes from Akshay Bhatia.

He stood 406th in the world at the time, but has now earned an exemption to Royal Portrush – his first Open – after rising to 51st in the rankings ahead of the Championship.

Echavarria’s second PGA victory came at October’s Zozo Championship in Japan, where he again shot four rounds in the 60s and beat Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman by one, making birdies at two of the final three holes.

"It's incredible to win a tournament that Tiger's won," he said. "I just need 80 more to catch him - I'm on my way.”

A third was agonisingly close at January’s Sony Open in Hawaii, Nick Taylor beating him at the second hole of their play-off.

And more success came on his Masters debut in April - in the traditional curtain-raising par three competition, where he played the nine holes in five under par and defeated JJ Spaun when they went into sudden death.