Played the first major of his career at the 2017 U.S. Open and finished joint ninth, with only winner Brooks Koepka scoring better over the closing 36 holes.
Now makes his Open Championship debut after winning Sunday’s Barbasol Championship and thus taking the one St Andrews spot on offer in the last leg of The Open Qualifying Series.
It was a maiden PGA Tour success for the 30-year-old, who helped the University of Alabama to the NCAA college title in both 2013 and 2014.
Turned professional after that second success and tasted victories on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2016 and 2020. Was second in that circuit’s Tour Championship last September and on gaining promotion tied for fourth at the Sanderson Farms Championship only a month later.
This year, however, he had a best finish of 24th going to Kentucky but opened with two 65s and then added a 67 and closing 66 to beat Kevin Streelman by one with a 15-foot birdie putt on the final green.
His previous best performance was tied second in the 2018 Valero Texas Open behind Andrew Landry. That included a course record 62.