The Open Championship is the most famous golf tournament.
Players from all over the world compete, and even amateurs have a chance to join through various qualifying methods.
Let’s dive into some of these amateur players aiming for the Claret Jug .
Gordon Sargent (United States):
Ranked as the world’s top amateur, Gordon Sargent will be at Royal Troon. He earned his spot by winning the Mark H McCormack Medal in 2023. Known for his powerful hits, he impressed many at the 2023 Masters. Despite earning a PGA Tour card this year, he chose to return to college for his senior year. Fans might find it interesting that he’s keeping his options open before turning professional next summer.
Jacob Skov Olesen (Denmark)
Jacob Skov Olesen made history by becoming Denmark’s first Amateur Champion at Ballyliffin. His victory secured him a place at Royal Troon and entries into The Masters and US Open next year.
Calum Scott (Scotland)
Calum Scott qualified through the new Open Amateur Series after narrowly missing out on winning The Amateur Championship against Jacob Skov Olesen. He plays college golf with Texas Tech Red Raiders, following in the footsteps of notable alumni like Ludvig Aberg and his brother Sandy.
Jasper Stubbs (Australia)
Jasper Stubbs won the Asia-Pacific Amateur title on his home course near Royal Melbourne. This achievement got him into this year’s Masters, although he didn’t make it past the cut.
Santiago De La Fuente (Mexico)
Santiago De La Fuente clinched victory at the Latin American Amateur with an impressive final round of 64 in Panama. This win has given him opportunities to play in multiple Majors this year despite missing cuts previously.
Tommy Morrison (United States)
Tommy Morrison became the first American to win the European Amateur after a dramatic playoff finish. Standing tall at 6ft 9in, he’s hard to miss both physically and talent-wise as he aims to follow other University of Texas legends like Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler.
Altin Van Der Merwe (South Africa)
Altin Van Der Merwe won Africa’s inaugural Amateur Championship with a birdie during a playoff at Leopard Creek, securing his place in The Open lineup.
Dominic Clemons (England)
Despite losing The Amateur Championship final, Dominic Clemons bounced back quickly by qualifying through Final Qualifying alongside Justin Rose with an eight-under score at Burnham and Berrow.
Matthew Dodd-Berry (England)
Matthew Dodd-Berry earned his spot by shooting two rounds of 69 during Final Qualifying at West Lancashire, outperforming notable names like Sergio Garcia along the way.
Luis Masaveu (Spain)
Luis Masaveu faced tough competition but emerged victorious from a three-for-one playoff despite using old clubs due to lost luggage. His clutch performance included sinking a crucial birdie putt under pressure.
Jaime Montojo Fernandez (Spain)
Jaime Montojo Fernandez also qualified via Final Qualifying alongside Luis Masaveu after finishing joint second at Royal Cinque Ports. Coming from a family deeply rooted in golf history adds another layer of interest for fans watching him compete.
What do you think about these rising stars? Do you have any favorites among them?
