Shaun Norris

As with his debut in 2017, Norris has secured a place at The Open through the Japan Tour, where he finished runner-up on last season’s money list behind Shugo Imahira.

Had a superb late run to achieve that. In October he was runner-up at the Japan Open – Yuki Inamori grabbed the Royal Portrush spot on offer there by two strokes – and then three weeks later on his next start he achieved his third victory on the circuit by capturing the Heiwa PGM Championship by one.

By adding a tie for third in the Visa Taiheiyo Masters, he moved into the game’s top 75 for the first time.

Played at Carnoustie last summer thanks to another joint third place at the Joburg Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series, in his home city.

His first Japan Tour success was the 2016 Myanmar Open, co-sanctioned with the Asian circuit, and in 2017 a closing 64 saw him storm to a four-stroke victory in the Tour Championship, which took him to second on the money list on the very day that the top two received Open exemptions. Also a two-time winner on his home Sunshine Tour.