Steve Palmer's player-by-player guide to the Open Championship

Steve Palmer's player-by-player guide to the Open, which starts at Royal St George's Golf Club, Kent, on Thursday.

Jaco Ahlers

Sunshine Tour form-horse who missed the cut in his only previous Open (2009). Making the cut would be an achievement for the South African.

Byeong Hun An

The 29-year-old Korean has made only 12 cuts from 25 Major starts, never bettering 16th place. Recent form suggests another weekend off.

Abraham Ancer

Texas-born Mexican who has missed the cut in his two previous Opens. Strong summer form makes the 30-year-old a likely contender.

Marcus Armitage

The Salford lad made his European Tour breakthrough in Germany last month. Missed cut in only previous Open.

Sam Bairstow

The 22-year-old amateur from Sheffield is outside the top 100 of the world amateur rankings, but has found form and came through the St Annes Links qualifier.

Daniel Berger

Four-time PGA Tour champion with poor Open record (MC-27-MC). Has twice finished in the top seven in the US Open, though. Tied for 34th place in the John Deere Classic on Sunday, despite starting the event as favourite.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Steady South African who finds lots of fairways and possesses a tidy short-game. Missed the cut on Open debut in 2019. He can get his hands on the Claret Jug one day, but this week may be too soon in his development.

Richard Bland

Southampton man won his maiden European Tour title at the age of 48 in May, before sharing the lead at the halfway stage of the US Open. Open results of MC-22. In form of his life.

Keegan Bradley

The 2011 US PGA champ has never bettered 15th spot in the Open in seven starts, missing two cuts. Should give a decent account of himself this time, though, after eight top-30s in his last ten events. Strong enough ball-striker to contend.

Christoffer Bring

University of Texas man won the European Amateur Championship last month. The 22-year-old Dane is just inside the top 50 of the world amateur rankings.

Dean Burmester

South African slugger won in Tenerife in May, but has never made a serious impact in elite events. Open debutant.

Sam Burns

The 24-year-old Louisianan made his PGA Tour breakthrough in May with a three-shot win in the Valspar. Talented but raw Open debutant.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

Amiable Spaniard with three European Tour titles to his name. Fourth place in the 2017 Open is his only Major top-five in 30 appearances. Sandwich debutant.

Jorge Campillo

The 35-year-old Spaniard has won twice on the European Tour but his Majors record reads played five, missed five cuts.

Patrick Cantlay

Covid helped Cantlay win the Memorial last month – a positive test for runaway leader Jon Rahm changing everything before round four – and he has played well since. Open form of 12-41. All-round quality makes the 29-year-old Californian one for the outright shortlist.

Patrick Cantlay has the game to succeed at Royal St George'sCredit: Gregory Shamus

Paul Casey

The Surrey-born swinger turns 44 next week. Will he still be a Major maiden? Sandwich form of MC-54 and only two top-tens in 17 Open starts, but won well in Dubai in January, has been solid all year and drives well enough to approach the assignment with confidence.

Ricardo Celia

The 29-year-old Colombian, outside the top 1,000 of the world rankings, won the 2019 Argentina Open. Don’t cry for Ricardo when he misses the cut on Friday.

Stewart Cink

The infamous party-pooper of Turnberry, 2009 – when he defeated a 59-year-old Tom Watson in a playoff. As well as lifting the Claret Jug, Cink has finished third in each of the Stateside Majors, and is an eight-time PGA Tour champion. Sandwich results of 34-30. After ten months of solid form, the 48-year-old deserves plenty of respect.

Darren Clarke

The last champion of an Open at Royal St George’s, the Northern Irishman drawing on all his links experience to make a Major breakthrough at the age of 42 in 2011. A decade later he has arrived as the only pro-event course winner in the field, but he has missed five of the eight Open cuts since lifting the Jug.

Corey Conners

Florida-based Canadian lacking links experience. Only one PGA Tour win. Missed cut on his Open debut in 2019, and again in the Scottish Open last week. The quality of his ball-striking may be enough to see him contend – and he can boast two top-tens in the Masters – but it is difficult to imagine enough putts dropping for him to claim the Jug.

Daniel Croft

Mersey Valley pro came through the West Lancashire qualifier, achieving a lifelong dream. Extending his Open debut beyond Friday would be another feather in his cap.

Joel Dahmen

Accurate Washington-born 33-year-old who won his maiden PGA Tour title in the low-grade Corales Championship in March. Missed cut on Open debut in 2019.

Jason Day

Injury-plagued Australian who is 33 going on 63. Tied 30th in his previous Sandwich Open. Only one Open top-ten in nine starts. The 2015 US PGA is his lone Major success.

Bryson DeChambeau

The 2020 US Open champion and eight-time PGA Tour winner parted company with his long-time caddie Timmy Tucker just before the Rocket Mortgage Classic last time out. The loss of his trusty sidekick means his poor Open form of MC-51-MC seems unlikely to be much improved upon.

Thomas Detry

The Belgian propelled himself into the Open field when making a three-man playoff for the Scottish Open on Sunday. Lost to Min Woo Lee, remaining a European Tour maiden, but got Sandwich consolation. Open debut.

David Duval

The former world number one, Open champion in 2001, has made only four Open cuts since lifting the Claret Jug and turns 50 in November.

Ernie Els

The dual Open champion won twice on the seniors circuit last year. Sandwich form of 6-18-MC. The South African is 51 and difficult to trust on the greens.

Harris English

Sentry Tournament of Champions glory gave the Georgia man a perfect start to the year, but some back problems soon followed. He has rediscovered his A-game in the last couple of months, finishing third in the US Open and first in the Travelers Championship in his latest two starts. The 31-year-old tied for 15th place in the 2013 Open and says he enjoys the challenge of links golf. A dangerous outsider.

Harris English is back to his bestCredit: Sam Greenwood

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano

The 40-year-old Spaniard has won seven times on the European Tour, but his last victory came in 2013, and he is outside the top 800 of the world rankings. Six Open starts have amounted to little.

Tony Finau

PGA Tour nearly-man, whose only victory came in the 2016 Puerto Rico Open, has a rock-solid Majors record – ten top-tens from 21 starts. He was third in the last Open. A form dip since the US PGA makes the Utah man a less attractive option for Sandwich.

Matthew Fitzpatrick

The Sheffield lad followed a December DP World Tour Championship triumph by regularly contending for a Stateside breakthrough. He has become a leaderboard regular on both sides of the Atlantic, losing a playoff for the Scottish Open last week. Definitely worth considering although Open results of 44-MC-44-MC-20 are off-putting.

Tommy Fleetwood

The 30-year-old Southport man grew up playing links golf and has progressive Open form of 27-12-2 from the last three editions. This year, though, he has posted only two top-tens in strokeplay competition, with a best finish of seventh in Abu Dhabi.

Sam Forgan

Felixstowe Ferry club pro came through the Prince’s qualifier. Making the cut is far from a foregone conclusion.

Rickie Fowler

Former world number one amateur, with five wins on the PGA Tour and two in Europe, has lost his way in his early 30s. He has been in and out of the top 100 over the last couple of months. A tie for fifth in the last Open at Sandwich makes him worth considering at huge odds. Eighth in the US PGA in May was encouraging.

Ryan Fox

Power-packed Kiwi who struggles on the greens. His general links record is good, but his Open form (49-MC-39-16) is nothing special.

Dylan Frittelli

The South African accessed the field when Louis de Jager tested positive for Covid on Monday. Open results of MC-MC-32 and in dismal form.

Abel Gallegos

Argentinian teen won the Latin America Amateur Championship. He is just inside the top 100 of the world amateur rankings. Nobody scored worse for 36 holes in last year’s Masters.

Sergio Garcia

The 41-year-old Spaniard has shown a little form (20-19-17 in last three events) just in time for one of his favourite tournaments. He has recorded ten top-tens in the Open, including two seconds, and Sandwich results of 10-9 are compelling. Can his fragile putting hold up?

Lucas Glover

The 2009 US Open champion has made only 18 cuts in 43 Major appearances, but he was 12th at Royal St George’s in 2011, his best Open effort. He won the John Deere Classic by two shots in Illinois on Sunday.

Talor Gooch

Open debutant at age 29. PGA Tour maiden who has never bettered 44th place in a Major.

Branden Grace

The South African carded the lowest round in Major history with his third-round 62 in the 2017 Open, finishing sixth, his only Open top-ten. Sandwich debut, but has been getting his act together in the last five months and should enjoy the assignment.

Lanto Griffin

Open debut for the Californian, whose only PGA Tour title came in the 2019 Houston Open. He has gone 14 events without a top-20 finish.

Emiliano Grillo

Accurate Argentinian finished 12th on his Open debut in 2016 (still his best Major finish), but has missed three cuts since. He has missed his last three cuts on the PGA Tour.

Adam Hadwin

Canadian has drifted outside the world’s top 100 this year. He has posted no top-20s in his 17 Majors.

Cole Hammer

Former world number one amateur. He has played in three US Opens and missed the cut each time. Open debutant aged 21.

Justin Harding

The South African has won twice on the European Tour, twice on the Asian Tour and seven times on the Sunshine Tour, peaking in his early-30s. Open form of MC-41. Poor final round in the Irish Open was followed by missed cut by seven shots in Scotland last week, so he has suffered an untimely dent to confidence.

Brian Harman

Diminutive left-hander who has been a PGA Tour leaderboard regular this year, highlighted by third place at Sawgrass. His Open record (26-MC-MC-MC-MC) is abysmal.

Padraig Harrington

Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, a two-time Open champion, has Sandwich form of 22-MC, so this is clearly not his favourite track on the rota. He has missed the cut in the last three Opens.

Tyrrell Hatton

Dual Dunhill Links champion, who finished fifth in the 2016 Open at Troon and sixth in the 2019 edition at Portrush. The 2020 Bay Hill champion is a six-time European Tour winner, becoming increasingly composed in his late-20s, and worth considering. He finished strongly in the Scottish Open on Sunday.

Tyrrell Hatton getting a practise round in at Royal St George'sCredit: Matthew Lewis/R&A

Benjamin Hebert

Accurate Frenchman who has won six times on the Challenge Tour, but is winless on the main circuit. Open results of MC-41.

Lucas Herbert

The 25-year-old Australian won his second European Tour title the week before last in the Irish Open, then finished fourth in the Scottish Open. He tied 51st in his only previous Open. Full of form and confidence.

Russell Henley

The Georgia man co-led the US Open through rounds two and three, but dropped to 13th place. Zero top-tens from 27 Majors. Tied 11th in the John Deere Classic on Sunday.

Garrick Higgo

The left-handed South African youngster has won three of his last nine events – two in Europe and one on the PGA Tour – but is an Open debutant lacking links experience.

Daniel Hillier

Hollinwell qualifier. A 21-year-old New Zealander who has been producing solid recent results on the Challenge Tour, but is ranked outside the world’s top 600. Major debut.

Charley Hoffman

The 44-year-old Californian is winless since April, 2016, but has twice finished in the top three this year. Missed the cut at Sandwich in 2011 and Open record is poor.

Max Homa

Two-time PGA Tour champion with abysmal Majors record, missing seven of eight cuts, finishing 64th in the other. Open debut.

Billy Horschel

WGC-Match Play champion. FedEx Cup winner in 2014. Only one top-ten in 31 Majors, though, and has missed five cuts in his six Opens.

Sam Horsfield

The swashbuckling Englishman got into the field when former champion Zach Johnson suffered as positive Covid test on Monday. Horsfield is brilliant but inconsistent, and has been having a few injury niggles of late. Open debut.

Rikuya Hoshino

The 25-year-old Japanese has won five times in his homeland. Major results of MC-MC-26. Open debut.

Viktor Hovland

Norway’s greatest ever player and an apparent Major champion in waiting. He withdrew during the second round of the US Open, labouring with some sand trapped in his eye, but returned to action in the BMW International and triumphed. The 23-year-old has been practising in Norway since for his Open debut.

Mackenzie Hughes

Canadian plodder with excellent short-game. His best finish in nine Majors came in the last one – 15th in the US Open. Open debutant.

Ben Hutchinson

Qualifier from St Annes Links. Yorkshireman based at Howley Hall. Amateur making Open debut. A friend of Marcus Armitage.

Yuki Inamori

The 26-year-old Japanese has won twice on the Japan Tour. He tied for 72nd on his Open debut two years ago. He has arrived for his second Open in good form.

Jazz Janewattananond

Thai dude who rose to 38th in the world rankings at the end of last year, but has plummeted back down amid a poor 2021 campaign. Has missed the cut in both previous Opens.

Dustin Johnson

Masters glory last year cemented the Carolinian giant’s status as the best player in the world – following FedEx Cup success – but his form has dipped sharply since he won the Saudi International in the first week of February. Johnson was runner-up in the last Open at Sandwich – one of three Open top-tens – but he has been unconvincing over the last five months.

Matt Jones

Runaway winner of the Honda Classic in March, but without a top-20 since. The Aussie’s 19 previous Majors have yielded zero top-20s.

Takumi Kanaya

Promising 23-year-old Japanese who was world number one amateur for 55 weeks. He won on the Japan Tour as an amateur in 2019. Four Majors have resulted in three missed cuts (58th in the 2019 Masters). Talented but inexperienced.

Rikard Karlberg

The Swede won the 2015 Italian Open, but has struggled badly since. Five Majors, five missed cuts. Probably not the best golfer in the world.

Martin Kaymer

Dual Major champion, but winless anywhere since the 2014 US Open. Only Open top-ten came in 2010. He was 12th at Sandwich in 2011.

Brad Kennedy

The 47-year-old Australian journeyman has won three times on the Japan Tour, but has missed the cut in all his three previous Majors.

Chan Kim

Korean-born American 31-year-old who has won five times on the Japan Tour. Open form of 11-MC is better than most, and he has been generally bright of late, finishing 23rd in the US PGA. Weekend employment could be coming his way.

Marcus Kinhult

The Swede has overcome some health problems and after almost four months away from the European Tour he missed the cut in the Irish Open the week before last, then played better in Scotland last week. Tied for 61st in only previous Open.

Ryosuke Kinoshita

The Japanese turns 30 on Friday. Late bloomer who has won twice on his home circuit this year. Major debut.

Chris Kirk

Four-time PGA Tour champion, but winless since 2015. Suffered with alcoholism in 2019, but has bounced back this year, finishing second in the Sony Open and posting four top-tens. Zero top-tens in 17 previous Majors.

Kevin Kisner

Three-time PGA Tour champion who has lost confidence with the putter this year. Tied second in the 2018 Open at Carnoustie. Sandwich debut.

Kurt Kitayama

Californian slugger who has won twice on the European Tour, but made little impact in his homeland. Made his Open debut at Portrush and missed the cut.

Brooks Koepka

Former world number one who appears to raise his game for Majors, finishing second in the US PGA and fourth in the US Open this year. He won the Phoenix Open in February. Health issues have hindered him, but finished fifth in the Travelers last time out. Open form of 10-6-39-4. Sandwich debut. Gunning for fifth Major title and a massive runner.

Jason Kokrak

The Ohio-based pro has peaked in his mid-30s, quickly winning his first two PGA Tour titles, putting better than ever. His 17 Majors have yielded zero top-tens, with Open results of MC-32.

Matt Kuchar

The 43-year-old has won nine times on the PGA Tour, but no Majors, despite finishing in the top ten 12 times. Open runner-up in 2017. He missed the cut at Sandwich in 2011. February, 2020, provided his last top-ten in strokeplay competition and he has drifted outside the world’s top 50.

Romain Langasque

Erratic Frenchman and former Amateur champion at Carnoustie. His lone European Tour title came in Wales. Has made the cut in all four Majors he has played. Tied 63rd in only Open. Poor recent form.

Deyen Lawson

Lanky Aussie making Major debut at age of 30. Has missed his last ten cuts – eight of them on the Challenge Tour.

Min Woo Lee

The 22-year-old Australian became a two-time European Tour champion by winning the Scottish Open on Sunday, earning an Open debut as a result. A hugely promising player set for a glorious future.

Richard T Lee

Arizona-based 30-year-old Canadian who has won twice on the Asian Tour. Missed the cut in his only Major, the 2007 US Open.

Marc Leishman

Amiable Australian with six PGA Tour titles to his name. Form of 5-2-53-6-60-MC from the last six Opens. He likes links golf and finished third in the Travelers Championship last time out. Sandwich debut.

Haotong Li

Looks set to slip outside the world’s top 400. Has not made a cut this year. Third place on Open debut in 2017 seems irrelevant given extent of 2021 struggles.

Yuxin Lin

Asia-Pacific Amateur champion in 2017, qualifying for the 2018 Masters and Open as a 17-year-old. Won the APA again in 2019. Three Majors, three missed cuts. A 20-year-old Chinese player with much to learn.

Adam Long

The 33-year-old New Orleans man tied 23rd in the John Deere Classic on Sunday, but got into the Open field when Ryan Moore decided not to make the trip. Open debut.

Joe Long

Bristol boy, 24, who won the 2020 Amateur Championship at Birkdale. Missed the cut in the Masters and US Open last year. Open debut.

Mike Lorenzo-Vera

Enigmatic Frenchman who has built a career on sharp putting. European Tour maiden. Open form of 62-MC. Zero top-20s this year.

Shane Lowry

The Irishman has enjoyed a two-year reign as Open champion thanks to the pandemic. His form has picked up in the last four months, making a successful title defence entirely feasible. Sandwich debut.

Joost Luiten

Six-time European Tour champion who is winless since February, 2018, and struggling to keep his place in the world’s top 200. Has played seven Opens without a top-30. Tied 63rd at Sandwich in 2011.

Robert MacIntyre

Scottish left-hander who has never won a main-tour, standard-format, 72-hole event. Brilliant Open debut at Portrush though – tied sixth – will encourage fans of the 24-year-old.

Richard Mansell

The 26-year-old Midlander played well on the Challenge Tour last season and has looked good for short spells on the European Tour this term. Hollinwell qualifier. Major debut.

Rory McIlroy

The Northern Irishman hired new coach Pete Cowen in the lead-up to the Masters, and inconsistency has followed. He missed the cut in the Masters, won the Wells Fargo Championship, was 49th in the US PGA and seventh in the US Open. A tie for 59th in the Irish Open was followed by a missed cut in the Scottish Open last week. He tied 25th at Royal St George’s in 2011. Something similar can be expected this week.

Troy Merritt

Iowa man entered the field on Saturday after Danny Lee’s withdrawal. Lost a playoff for the Rocket Mortgage Classic last time out. Two-time PGA Tour champ. Open debut.

Phil Mickelson

Phil The Thrill delivered a treat for his fans with a US PGA victory at the age of 50 in May. A share of 62nd place in the US Open when chasing the career Grand Slam last month was an immediate crash back to earth. The 2013 Open champ has Sandwich form of 59-2, but at 51 would be the oldest winner in history if triumphant on Sunday (46 is the record).

Guido Migliozzi

Italian who fist-pumped his way to fourth place on his Major debut last month – an incredible US Open effort from the 24-year-old. The two-time European Tour champion will approach his Open debut in fearless fashion, but lack of links know-how could prove his undoing.

Keith Mitchell

The Georgia-based 29-year-old, whose only PGA Tour title came in the 2019 Honda Classic, has missed the cut in three of his five Majors, never bettering 43rd place.

Francesco Molinari

The 2018 Open champion, who fended off Tiger Woods to lift the Jug at Carnoustie, relocated from London to California last year and played only seven tournaments in 2020. Back problems have blighted his 2021 campaign. Missed the cut at Sandwich in 2011.

Collin Morikawa

The Californian won the 2020 US PGA on his tournament debut and is seeking to do likewise in his first Open this week. His typically laserlike irons make him a threat anywhere, but lack of links experience is a significant handicap. He tied 71st in the Scottish Open last week.

Sebastian Munoz

Colombian 28-year-old with one PGA Tour title under his belt. Missed the cut in only previous Open. Played well in the John Deere Classic in Illinois last week.

Ryutaro Nagano

Runner-up in the Gateway To The Open Japan Tour event at the end of May. Some players are more deserving of their place in this field than others. Nagano, who produced the best performance of his career to book a Sandwich ticket, is one of the most fortunate.

Joaquin Niemann

The Chilean, 22, has finished second three times on the PGA Tour this year, including when losing a playoff in the Rocket Mortgage Classic last time out. Ten Major starts have failed to yield a top-20 and he missed the cut in only previous Open.

Alex Noren

The 2016 Scottish Open champ (Castle Stuart) has won on an easy links, but he missed the cut at Sandwich in 2011 and may not be solid enough for such a tough test. Some bright recent PGA Tour form gives the ten-time European Tour winner hope. Turned 39 on Monday.

Shaun Norris

The 39-year-old South African journeyman has won five times on the Japan Tour, most recently at the end of May. Open results of 62-61-MC.

Louis Oosthuizen knows what it takes to win the Claret JugCredit: Getty Images

Louis Oosthuizen

The 2010 Open champion at St Andrews has finished runner-up in six Majors since, including the last two. His only Open top-tens in 13 starts have come at St Andrews. He tied 54th at Sandwich in 2011, but is just outside the world’s top ten and must be respected.

Carlos Ortiz

The 30-year-old Mexican won his maiden PGA Tour title in the Houston Open last November. Yet to crack the top 50 in six Major starts. Open debut.

Ryan Palmer

Three PGA Tour titles is a poor return for more than two decades as a top Stateside pro – and the 44-year-old is winless since 2010. He tied 30th in 2011 at Sandwich, his best result in his five Open starts. Tied for fourth in Scottish Open on Sunday.

CT Pan

Former world number one amateur who has won one PGA Tour title at the age of 29. Eight missed cuts in 11 Major starts, including in his two previous Open appearances.

Victor Perez

French ball-striking colossus with a poor short-game. The Dundee-based 28-year-old won the 2019 Dunhill Links, but will be tackling a much tougher links on his Open debut. He has missed the cut in the last four Majors.

Aaron Pike

Australian journeyman making Open debut. A tiny fish in a massive pond.

Nicholas Poppleton

Glasses-wearing Sheffield man came through the West Lancashire qualifier. Not worth popping a ton on at 2000-1

Ian Poulter

Ryder Cup stalwart still chasing Major breakthrough aged 45. Sandwich form of 46-MC. Last Major top-ten was in the 2015 Masters, but fourth place in Scottish Open was a timely boost.

Jon Rahm

The emphatic tournament favourite. Had to withdraw from the Memorial having assumed a six-shot final-round lead, but next time out he made his Major breakthrough in the US Open, closing with two birdies to triumph at Torrey Pines. He has twice won the Irish Open on links terrain. He tied for seventh place in the Scottish Open on Sunday. Poor Open record (59-44-MC-11) is the main negative.

Aaron Rai

Accurate Wolverhampton man making Open debut. Has missed the cut in his two Stateside Majors. Two-time European Tour champ. Tidy in warm-up spins. Straight driving makes a top-20 finish a possibility.

Chez Reavie

Kansas man turns 40 in November, having built a decent career from his precision. Tied third in the 2019 US Open. Open results of MC-MC-MC.

Patrick Reed

The 2018 Masters champion’s steady but unspectacular Open record reads MC-20-12-MC-28-10), and something similar expected. Finished in the top 20 in the last seven Majors, and 13 of the last 20. Sandwich debutant.

JC Ritchie

The 27-year-old South African has won eight times in his homeland. Missed the cut on his Major debut in the 2020 US Open.

Justin Rose

The former world number one, US Open champion and FedEx Cup winner has shown signs of a new lease of life at the age of 40, but lacks consistency in both fitness and form. He won the 2014 Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen, but has generally struggled at tougher Open set-ups. Sandwich form of MC-44. A tie for second in 2018 is his best Open effort.

Antoine Rozner

Frenchman accessed the field on Saturday when Kyoung-hoon Lee withdrew. Two-time European Tour champion. Open debut.

Poom Saksansin

The 28-year-old Thai has won three times on the Asian Tour but is making his Major debut. Outside the world’s top 1,000 and appears a lamb to the slaughter.

Xander Schauffele

The Californian has become a PGA Tour nearly-man, finishing second eight times since his last victory. He has recorded nine top-tens in 17 Major appearances, including four top-threes. Tied second at Carnoustie in the 2018 Open. Seems likely to contend again this year, without winning.

Scottie Scheffler

Texas man making Open debut. Finished in the top 20 in his last five Majors, including seventh place in the US Open last month. The WGC-Match Play runner-up lacks links experience, but so did compatriot Ben Curtis at Sandwich in 2003 when only 11 months older than Scheffler is now. Should not be discounted after bright effort last week in Scotland.

Scottie Scheffler driving off the 9th tee at Royal St George'sCredit: Matthew Lewis/R&A

Marcel Schneider

The 31-year-old German has won twice on the Challenge Tour. Four European Tour top-tens. Major debut.

Matthias Schmid

The 23-year-old German won the European Amateur in 2019 and 2020. Missed cut on Open debut in 2019.

Matthias Schwab

Steady Austrian remains a European Tour maiden despite seven top-five finishes. Open debutant,missed the cut in both his previous Majors.

Adam Scott

Former world number one who is difficult to trust on the greens. Only one main-tour title in the last five years. Turns 41 on Friday. Has finished in the top five in the Open three times, Sandwich form of MC-25.

Jason Scrivener

Accurate Aussie finished 23rd in the US PGA in May and has posted three European Tour top-tens since. European Tour maiden. Open debutant.

Jack Senior

The Morecambe man qualified for a fourth Open after finishing tenth in the Scottish Open. He has missed the cut in his three previous appearances.

Laird Shepherd

Rye Golf Club youngster who won the Amateur Championship at Nairn last month. He was four down with four to play in the final, before winning on the second extra hole. Open debut aged 23. Outside the top 150 of the world amateur rankings.

Marcel Siem

The German won the Challenge Tour event on Sunday – Le Vaudreuil Challenge – and was given an Open spot too. The 40-year-old has Open form of 27-MC-MC-MC.

Webb Simpson

The Carolinian has posted no top-tens in eight previous Open starts, but he tied for 16th on his Open debut at Sandwich in 2011. His form has dipped since 12th spot in the Masters in April, but typically accurate driving and sharp scrambling should count for plenty this week.

Cameron Smith

The Florida-based Aussie has progressive Open form of MC-78-20, and that upward curve may continue. The 27-year-old, who has won once as an individual on the PGA Tour and twice in the Zurich Classic pairs event, has three top-fives to his name in Stateside Majors. Form dip over the last couple of months is off-putting.

Brandt Snedeker

Putting wizard has drifted well outside of the world’s top 100 at the age of 40. One of six missed cuts in the Open came at Sandwich in 2011. Winless for almost three years.

Jordan Spieth

The 2017 Open champion turns 28 this month, a US PGA title away from the career Grand Slam. Open results of 44-36-4-30-1-9-20, Sandwich debut. Top-20 in 11 of his last 13 tournaments, including victory in the Texas Open and third in the Masters, but can he drive well enough to stay out of the Royal St George’s rough?

Brendan Steele

The Californian gained access to the field on Sunday when Bubba Watson was forced to withdraw due to a Covid track and trace. Steele is a three-time PGA Tour champion with a terrible Open record (MC-MC-MC-47).

Henrik Stenson

The 2016 Open champion has lost his way at the age of 45, making only five cuts this year, with a best finish of 23rd place in a weak Scandinavian Mixed in his homeland. He has not missed an Open cut since 2007, but there are signs that streak could be coming to an end.

Kevin Streelman

Two-time PGA Tour champion, but winless since 2014. He is enjoying his best ever Majors season, finishing eighth in the US PGA and 15th in the US Open. Five Open starts have yielded a personal-best of 54th place. Missed the cut at Sandwich in 2011 and also missed out on weekend action in the John Deere Classic last week.

Andy Sullivan

The genial Midlander was handed an Open place on Saturday when Matt Wolff withdrew. Four-time European Tour champion with Open results of 30-12-70-MC-MC. Sandwich debut.

Justin Thomas

The Kentucky man finished eighth in the Scottish Open last week, putting well in his final round on Sunday. He produced possibly the worst shot of his career with a comically topped wood at the tenth hole in round three. He won at Sawgrass in March, but has been generally poor on the greens all year. His Open results read 53-MC-MC-11 and he is making his Sandwich debut.

Jonathan Thomson

The 25-year-old Yorkshireman, who survived childhood cancer, has been missing a lot of cuts on the Challenge Tour lately, but he came through the Hollinwell qualifier to book a Major debut. The tallest player in the field at 6ft 9ins, but it will be quite a reach for him to contend.

Brendon Todd

The Pittsburgh plodder turns 36 next week with three PGA Tour titles in his locker, testament to his accuracy and putting touch. Open form of 39-12 is respectable. He may scrape through to see some weekend action on his Sandwich debut.

Cameron Tringale

The 33-year-old Californian, a PGA Tour maiden, has never bettered 38th place in 12 Majors. Open results of MC-58.

Daniel van Tonder

The 30-year-old South African may have an ugly swing, but it has not stopped him winning seven times on the Sunshine Tour and once on the European Tour – the Kenya Savannah Classic in March. Open debutant.

Erik van Rooyen

The South African has made more headlines for his temper tantrums in recent weeks than he has done for his golf, destroying a tee marker in the US PGA. Open form of 17-20, and was eighth in the 2019 US PGA, but difficult to trust on the evidence of 2021.

Harold Varner

The American got into the field on Sunday when Hideki Matsuyama suffered another positive Covid test and had to withdraw. Varner is a 30-year-old PGA Tour maiden who finished 66th in his only previous Open. Tied 11th in the John Deere Classic on Sunday.

Johannes Veerman

Third place in the Irish Open the week before last secured the American a Major debut at Sandwich. Has found his A-game at the perfect time, but has never won a main-tour event.

Jimmy Walker

Lyme disease has meant that the Oklahoma man has failed to win since his Major breakthrough in the 2016 US PGA. He has not posted a top-ten in a Major since.

Matt Wallace

Four-time European Tour champion who is winless for almost three years. Open results of MC-51. Sandwich debut. Only one top-ten in 14 Majors. Has become difficult to trust.

Paul Waring

The 36-year-old Birkenhead man, winner of the 2018 Nordea Masters, has Open results of MC-19-MC-63. Health issues are taking their toll and he has drifted outside the top 300 of the world rankings. Only nine players scored worse in the Scottish Open last week.

Lee Westwood

The 48-year-old hit the top of the leaderboard in the Scottish Open on Saturday, before finishing the tournament in 35th place. Five Open top-four finishes provide hope for this week – as does his excellent March form on the PGA Tour – but Sandwich results of MC-MC are off-putting. He was world number two when missing the cut in 2011.

Bernd Wiesberger

Austrian giant with eight European Tour titles. He was poor in the Scottish Open last week, though, and has a dismal Majors record. Only one top-60s in his six Opens.

Danny Willett

The Sheffield man won the 2007 English Amateur at Royal St George’s, but missed the cut on his Open debut there in 2011. Has twice finished sixth in the Open, in 2015 and 2019. Masters champion in 2016, but lies outside the world’s top 100 going into this week, missing the cut by seven shots in the Scottish Open last week.

Connor Worsdall

Tommy Fleetwood has a rival for most ungolfer-like hairstyle at Sandwich. Essex man Worsdall qualified at Prince’s looking like the lead singer from Aerosmith. His fans don’t want to miss a thing – because they will probably get only 36 holes.

Gary Woodland

Eight Opens have yielded zero top-tens for the 2019 US Open champion. He has drifted well outside the world’s top 50 this year.

Will Zalatoris

Majors form of 6-2-8 from last year’s US Open to this year’s US PGA was hugely impressive from the San Francisco-born 24-year-old, but a missed cut followed in the US Open at Torrey Pines and his form has dipped going into his Open debut.

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