Thursday 9 July 2015 12:17, UK
Twelve players across four qualifiers secured their place at the 144th Open this week. From amateurs to seasoned stars, we look at those latest faces to join the St Andrews field.
Scott Arnold – Sydney, Australia
Although yet able to follow up victory at the 2012 Victorian Open with another professional win, the 29-year-old still hasn't missed a cut this year across events both in Europe and in Australasia.
The former amateur world No 1 failed to earn a European Tour card last autumn, but will have a chance to impress at The Open after progressing from Hillside.
Alister Balcombe, Clevedon, England
Following up third place in a regional qualifier with a tied-first finish at Royal Cinque Ports made the 19-year-old’s dream of playing at St Andrews a reality.
The plus-three handicapper has just completed the first year of a golf scholarship Stateside, while he also put in a strong showing on his way to finishing runner-up at May's Welsh Open Youth Championship.
Gary Boyd – Banbury, England
The Englishman will be making his third Open appearance after sharing top spot at Royal Cinque Ports, following on from a missed cut in 2008 and tied-38th finish in 2011.
A member of the European Tour for three seasons before losing his card the 28-year-old is now a regular on the Challenge Tour, already making three top-five placings this season.
Robert Dinwiddie - Dumfries, Scotland
After 16 attempts, the 32-year-old finally earned an Open debut to go alongside his two US Open appearances, closing six under in qualifying at Woburn.
The English-based Scot has struggled with injury in the past and has missed the cut in 10 of his 12 events this season, but produced a strong display to take a share of third at the Lyoness Open.
Paul Dunne – Greystones, Ireland
For the second year running, the Irish amateur was the star of the show during Woburn qualifying, producing a brilliant second round 65 to take a three-stroke win.
The 22-year-old will hope to improve on last year’s missed cut, with the University of Alabama graduate now looking to secure a spot in Europe’s Walker Cup team this autumn.
Pelle Edberg – Jonkoping, Sweden
Edberg ended tied-12th at the Open back in 2007, but makes will make his first major appearance in seven years after progressing from the qualifier at Hillside.
The Swede has had limited success on the European Tour, struggling to progress through Q-school on several occasions and has missed the cut six times this season.
Ryan Fox – Auckland, New Zealand
The son of former Rugby Union World Cup winning fly-half Grant Fox came through via play-off at Gailes Links, securing a first major appearance.
Already a winner this season on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the world No 208 has posted two top-10 finishes in as many weeks on the European Challenge Tour.
Retief Goosen – Limpopo, South Africa
After missing the third major of the year in both 2013 and 2014, the two-time US Open champion managed to progress this time around and reach St Andrews.
Battling fatigue after a long week playing in Germany, where Goosen finished tied-fourth at the BMW International Open, the South African needed a play-off to progress from the Marquess Course.
The 46-year-old boasts a strong record on the Old Course, with top-six places on both occasions the Open has been hosted there.
Paul Kinnear – Formby, England
The 21-year-old, a footballer on Tranmere Rovers' books as a teenager, nudged in a three-foot putt in a play-off at Gailes Links to seal his spot for St Andrews.
A member of England’s amateur squad, he currently sits in the top 10 of the men’s amateur order of merit and made his European Tour debut at last year's Madeira Islands Open.
Jordan Niebrugge – Missouri, USA
Part of America’s Walker Cup winning side two years’ ago, the 21-year-old will make his second major appearance having already featured at the 2014 Masters.
A business student at Oklahoma State University, Niebrugge is ranked in the world’s top 100 amateurs although impressed with a top-30 finish on the PGA Tour at last season's John Deere Classic.
Finishing joint-top in qualifying at Hillside secured a return to Scotland, having already featured in last month's Amateur Championship at Carnoustie.
Ben Taylor - Walton Heath, England
Just weeks after helping his university team to American glory, the 23-year-old birdied three of his last seven holes to pass through Royal Cinque Ports qualifying.
Now finished at Louisiana State University, the amateur, a plus-five handicapper, hopes to make Europe's Walker Cup squad before he considers whether to push for a tour card or not for next year.
Mark Young – Lancashire, England
A three-time county champion as an amateur, the former conservatory fitter came top of qualifying at Gailes Links to secure an Open debut.
The 33-year-old only took the plunge to turn professional in November and although missed out on a EuroProTour card, impressed with a tied-ninth finish at last month’s Paul Lawrie Foundation Granite City Classic.
