The final men’s major championship of the year is here, as the 151st Open Championship takes center stage at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.
With that comes the best players in the world vying to hoist the Claret Jug, but there’s another competition up for grabs: the title of low amateur.
There are six amateurs who will try to conquer Royal Liverpool this week. some of them are exempt by winning amateur championships while others played their way into the field. Three amateurs have won The Open before, with Bobby Jones winning three Claret Jugs during his incredible amateur career.
Open Championship 2023: Leaderboard, scores, news, tee times, more
Here’s a look at the amateurs playing in the 2023 Open Championship:
Jose Luis Ballester
Ballester, who plays at Arizona State, earned his way into the field at Royal Liverpool via going wire-to-wire at the European Amateur Championship in Estonia.
Tiger Christensen
Yes, there’s a Tiger in the field of a major championship, but this Tiger is a bit different than what you’re thinking. The 19-year-old from Germany advanced via final qualifying at West Lancashire.
Harrison Crowe
Crowe, the 21-year old from Australia, is in the field thanks to his victory last fall in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, where he got up-and-down on the final hole to win by one shot.
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira
Fernandez de Oliveira is making his Open debut. The 23-year-old, who recently finished his collegiate playing days at Arkansas, won the Latin America Amateur Championship earlier this year.
Christo Lamprecht
Lamprecht, a rising senior at Georgia Tech standing 6-foot-8, became the third South African winner of the Amateur Championship in the last six years with his victory last month. He also helped Georgia Tech to a national runner-up finish in the NCAA Championship in May.
Alex Maguire
Maguire, 22, is the first recipient of a spot in the Open awarded to the player who performs best in the St. Andrews Links Trophy, Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship.
