Stephen Dodd

Returns to The Open after 16 years thanks to winning the 2021 Senior Open presented by Rolex at Sunningdale.

The former China, Irish and European Open champion, who will celebrate his 56th birthday on the second day at St Andrews, came to the final hole tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez, but produced a brilliant birdie 24 hours after a course record-equalling 62 had taken him into the lead.

Made his Open debut at Royal Troon in 1989 after capturing the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and, as a result of that win, he also played the following year’s Masters at Augusta National.

In between, he was part of the first Britain and Ireland side to win the Walker Cup on American soil, his week including a foursomes win alongside Garth McGimpsey against Phil Mickelson and Danny Yates. It all led to him being named the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.

His maiden European Tour success in China did not come until 2004, but a year later he beat David Howell in a play-off for the Irish Open, partnered Bradley Dredge to World Cup success in Portugal and helped Britain and Ireland defeat Continental Europe in the Seve Trophy.