Kensei Hirata

Ranked 739th in the world when he teed off in May’s Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open, Hirata grabbed one of the four Royal Liverpool places on offer through the Qualifying Series in superb fashion, beating Keita Nakajima at the third hole of a play-off to make him the Japan Tour’s 400th first-time winner.

He had been eight strokes off the lead at the halfway stage and still five adrift after 54 holes, but closed with rounds of 67 and 66. The 22-year-old’s previous best performance on the circuit was a tie for sixth at the Kansai Open in April.

That included a third round 63. Turned professional in December 2021 after winning the Japan collegiate championship by one stroke from Taiga Semikawa, who will also be at Royal Liverpool after becoming the first amateur to win the Japan Open since its inaugural staging in 1927.

“It’s really a dream come true for me, getting my JGTO breakthrough and punching my ticket to The Open,” he said. “When I got my Tour card last year, my goal was to get my first win this year and I did it. It’s not going to be easy competing in The Open, but I’m really excited to be going there and getting the chance to play against the world’s best.”