Michael Kim

Took the last exempt spot in 2018 by winning the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic by a massive eight-stroke margin with a tournament record 27-under-par total, but the following season missed 19 out of 20 halfway cuts on the circuits and eventually had to drop down to the Korn Ferry Tour.

Made an instant return, however, and his second Open Championship start comes thanks to a seventh place finish at May’s Wells Fargo Championship.

Three Royal Liverpool spots were on offer as part of the Qualifying Series but he earned the second of those since five of the players ahead of him – Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Scott – were already exempt.

Although born in South Korea, he was raised in San Diego and took American citizenship. Was named college player of the year in 2013 and in the same month, having qualified for the US Open at Merion, finished as low amateur in joint 17th place nine shots behind winner Justin Rose.

Later the same year, Kim was part of the victorious United States Walker Cup side alongside Justin Thomas and Max Homa and against Matt Fitzpatrick, winning all his three games.