Yuto Katsuragawa

Went into January’s SMBC Singapore Open ranked 578th in the world, but in one of the best displays of his life the 23-year-old shot a bogey-free closing 68 and shared second place with Asian Tour No 1 Joohyung Kim to claim one of the four Open Qualifying Series places on offer.

“St Andrews here I come!" the Japanese player said. "This is simply amazing - I'm going to the Home of Golf for my first major. It is my dream to play in The Open.

“I never actually thought that I would be able to qualify, so it will be one of the highlights of my golfing career being able to participate at such a special Championship and the 150th anniversary.”

This is only his second full season as a professional, having left the amateur ranks following a superb joint 21st finish in the 2020 Japan Open.

Compatriot Keita Nakajima, later to become the world’s No 1 amateur and also part of the field at The Open, was one stroke ahead of him.

Then last October he had his success in the paid ranks, winning the Ryo Ishikawa everyone Project Challenge on the Abema TV Tour.