Fabrizio Zanotti

A joint fourth place finish in the Horizon Irish Open on July 3, completed with a brilliant birdie, brought the 39-year-old Paraguayan a return to The Open after a gap of four years.

Three spots at St Andrews were up for grabs as part of the Open Qualifying Series, but top three Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox and Thriston Lawrence were already exempt.

Zanotti has twice won on the DP World Tour. He first came through a play-off victory at the 2014 BMW International Open in Germany, making him the first player from his country to win on the circuit.

And he then finished birdie-eagle for a round of 63 to grab the 2017 Maybank Championship in Malaysia by one shot from David Lipsky, thus qualifying for an Open debut at Royal Birkdale through the “Race to Dubai” money list, also his route into the field at Carnoustie the following season.

He was Paraguay’s top-ranked amateur for six straight years and represented them in the 2000 and 2002 Eisenhower Trophy world team championships prior to turning professional in 2003.

Three years later he led the Order of Merit on the Tour de las Americas and then came through the European Challenge Tour.