Nacho Elvira

Finally played his first Open – indeed his first major – at the age of 36 last year after taking the first of three places on offer at the Made in HimmerLand event in Denmark.

He was the long-time leader there, but ended up losing a marathon six-hole play-off to home hero Rasmus Hojgaard. He went into the event 584th on the world rankings and after missing eight of his last 10 halfway cuts.

Elvira now plays at Royal Troon off this season’s DP World Tour rankings, having captured his second title in May at the Soudal Open. His maiden victory was at the 2021 Cazoo Open in Wales.

He represented Spain in the Eisenhower Trophy World Amateur Team Championship in 2010 and after completing his scholarship at Texas A&M University turned professional the following year.

Came through the 2013 Challenge Tour to earn promotion and after dropping back there won three times in 2015 to earn an immediate return. Lost a play-off for the 2016 Hassan Trophy in Morocco and years three later was involved in another at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, losing to Scott Hend after making a 30-foot putt on the last to force sudden death.