Eric Cole

Makes his Open debut at the age of 36 and 47 years after his father Bobby, joint-third at Carnoustie in 1975 after leading with a round to go, made the last of his nine appearances.  

Cole, whose mother is former women’s star Laura Baugh, was a prodigious winner on the Minor League Tour, but did not play his first major championship until the 2021 US Open.

He then earned a PGA Tour card for last season, lost a play-off to Chris Kirk for the Honda Classic and became the circuit’s second oldest-ever Rookie of the Year behind Todd Hamilton, winner of the 2004 Open at Royal Troon.

He has since had finishes of sixth, fifth, fourth, third and second again at October’s Zozo Championship behind Collin Morikawa. Having not been in the sport’s top 400 late in 2022, he has since climbed into the top 40.

One of seven children his famous parents had, he is the first to make his own mark in the game.

“Eric has done all this on his own,” his mother said. “I taught all my kids to play golf, but I realised that you either have the love or you don’t. I made it available to all of them to see if they’d show passion – Eric did.”