Meet the field The 152nd Open Royal Troon

Others are making their major debut this week, with Australian Elvis Smylie coming through the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports. 

Smylie has previously been to Royal Troon, watching on as Stenson claimed the Claret Jug in 2016. 

Davis Thompson arrives to his first Open appearance in fine form, having qualified for the Championship by winning the John Deere Classic for his maiden PGA Tour title. 

The American produced a tournament record 28-under-par to storm to victory, going on to tie for ninth at the US Open. 

The amateurs 

A perfect dozen of 12 amateurs will compete for the Silver Medal as the leading amateur this week. 

Santiago de le Fuente cried tears of joy as he clinched victory at the Latin America Amateur Championship in January. 

Having fallen short at the same event two years prior, the Mexican did not waste his opportunity this time around to seal a place at his first Open. 

Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen made history as he became his country’s first winner of The Amateur Championship in June. 

He had never previously played the event, moving through qualifying and then six rounds of matchplay as he beat England’s Dominic Clemons 4&3 in the final. 

Matthew Dodd-Berry will be hoping to join his clubmate Matthew Jordan in an impressive showing at The Open.

Jordan finished joint-10th at last year’s Championship at his home course of Royal Liverpool while Dodd-Berry will tee off at Royal Troon having been crowned joint-winner of the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at West Lancashire.

The Scots

There has not been a Scottish winner of The Open since Paul Lawrie was crowned Champion Golfer of the Year in 1999, doing so in Scotland at Carnoustie.

Four men will vie to join him and 20 other Scotsmen to have won the Claret Jug, with Scotland providing the winner of the first 29 Championships.

Robert MacIntyre will lead the Saltire charge following a dramatic victory at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday.