Sampson Zheng

Sampson Zheng will celebrate his 24th birthday on the eve of The Open, having scored 68 and 69 to take the second of five available places in Final Qualifying at West Lancashire on 1 July. 

“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “It’s not quite sunk in yet, but there’s going to be a lot of emotion when that happens.”

Represents China, but was born and lives in Japan and is tri-lingual.

He went into the qualifier 648th on the world rankings, having turned professional only last year after winning the US fourball title with fellow University of California-Berkeley student Aaron Du.

In August he tied for fourth in the Asian Tour’s International Series England event at Foxhills in Surrey. On his next start three weeks later he did even better on the circuit, finishing joint runner-up in the Mandiri Indonesia Open.

Admits he does not know much about Royal Portrush, but did play last October’s Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns and is also hoping the experience of West Lancashire and of having played Royal Melbourne will certainly help.