Stephan Jaeger

When world No.1 Scottie Scheffler had his incredible run of four wins and a joint-second place in five starts last year, the one player to beat him was Stephan Jaeger whose maiden PGA Tour victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open qualified him for The Masters two weeks later.  

Not even in the sport’s top 100 at the start of the year, he went into the event ranked 71st following two third place finishes and came out of it 43rd. Then, by staying in the leading 50 until the end of May, his Open debut was secure - and he is back by the same route this year.

He turned professional in 2012 after playing school and college golf in Tennessee, qualified for the 2015 US Open and the following season shot a 12-under-par round of 58 en route to the first of six titles on the Korn Ferry Tour. He was the circuit’s Player of the Year in 2020-21.

The former German amateur was also runner-up in October’s Black Desert Championship and joint third at the Sony Open in Hawaii this January.