Davis Thompson

The former amateur world No 1 won his maiden PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic on July 7 and the added bonus for him was that, as part of The Open Qualifying Series, the tournament offered two places at Royal Troon.

Thompson followed rounds of 63, 67 and 62 with seven more birdies in the first 10 holes on the final day and went on to take the title by four with a closing 64 and tournament record 28-under-par total.

It came only a week after he was one of four runners-up in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, one stroke behind winner Cameron Davis, and three weeks after he tied for ninth at the US Open – only the fourth major of his career.

His Open debut comes three years after he helped the United States win the Walker Cup in Florida.

He turned professional the same season and after winning on the Korn Ferry Tour on his 22nd birthday he joined the main circuit and had further second places at last season’s American Express – Jon Rahm beat him by a shot there – and May’s Myrtle Beach Classic.