Kazuki Higa

Earned a second straight appearance by topping the Japan Tour money list last year, winning no fewer than four times to take his overall tally on the circuit to six.

His charge into the world’s top 70 began with one-stroke victories at the Kansai Open and BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup – that put him straight into the field for a major debut at St Andrews – then he added the Shinhan Donghae Open in September and Dunlop Phoenix title in November.

Previous successes came at the 2019 RIZAP KBC Augusta tournament – he took that by five - and the 2021 Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup. Prior to those wins he had two successes on the Asian Development Tour, having turned professional in late 2017.

They were achieved by six and three-shot margins. His lowest round on his home circuit was a 62 in last season’s Golf Partner Pro-am. Although his other three rounds that week were a 65 and two 66s they were good enough only for a tie for fourth, one stroke away from a play-off.