Ryutaro Nagano

Ryutaro Nagano secured a return to The Open when he claimed one of the three qualifying spots available at the Mizuno Open at the end of May.

Nagano tied for second at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club in the Open Qualifying Series event, ensuring he will be part of the field at Royal Birkdale five years after making his major debut at Royal St George's.

The Japanese missed the cut in The 149th Open, but fared far better in his only other major appearance to date as he shared 20th place at the 2023 US Open.

Nagano has yet to win on the Japan Golf Tour, though he came agonisingly close when he was beaten in a play-off by Keita Nakajima at the 2021 Panasonic Open Golf Championship. As Nakajima was still an amateur at the time, Nagano did have the consolation of taking the ¥20,000,000 first prize.