Niklas Norgaard

It will be an Open debut at the age of 33 for the long-hitting Niklas Norgaard, who in September landed his first DP World Tour title in the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.

He went into the event 205th in the world rankings, but ended it 114th and five weeks later entered the top 100 for the first time in his career.

His 11th place on the Race to Dubai secured not only his Royal Portrush spot, but also a PGA Tour card.

Norgaard turned professional in 2015 after representing Denmark three times in the European amateur team championship and once at the Eisenhower Trophy world championship.

Four years later he topped the rankings on the Nordic Golf League, winning once and finishing second no fewer than six times on a circuit where he had triumphed as an amateur in 2011, to earn promotion to the Challenge Tour.

Seven top 10 finishes there two seasons later meant he could move up again to the DP World Tour and after missing out by one stroke to Nacho Elvira at the Soudal Open last May, and then finishing joint fourth at the European Open a week later, he had to wait only a further three months to break through.