The oldest major in professional golf is upon us.
Players will be heading to Royal Troon on the west coast of Scotland for the 145th Open Championship. The tournament, much like the Scottish weather, can be incredibly unpredictable. Recent champions include players in form, like Rory McIlroy, as well as older players gaining glory for one final time, like Ernie Els and Darren Clarke. The last time the Open was held at Troon, the champion was Todd Hamilton, who seemed to come out of nowhere to capture his only major championship.
Golf fans will expect to see the likes of Jordan Spieth and Jason Day contending for the Claret Jug on Sunday, but what about the lesser known players? What players will gain an unexpected late tee time? Here are five players who could possibly surprise.
Tyrrell Hatton
England has several young players that look to be contenders in majors for years to come. Danny Willett won The Masters back in April, and Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick look to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup and contend for majors in the near future. Another young Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton, isn't getting as much press, but he may be just as talented. Hatton, who is only 24, has only missed the cut twice this year, and is coming off a runner up finish at the Scottish Open last week. Hatton is playing in his fifth Open Championship and has yet to make the cut, but in his most recent major, the 2015 PGA Championship, he finished T25. Hatton has three top 10's in his last six starts, so he is coming in with great form.
Scott Piercy
This may be cheating a little bit, as Scott Piercy is now inside the top 30 in the world, but no one is coming into the Open in better form while having very little expectations surrounding him. Piercy tied for second at the US Open, and he followed that up with a solo second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The Open is the only major where Piercy hasn't had any success - he missed the cut in his only start back in 2013. He does have strong vibes about Open Championship week, however - he won the Barbasol Championship, the alternate field event to the Open, last year. All of his recent success is even more impressive when realize that he missed five months of golf with an elbow injury only two years ago.
Hideto Tanihara
A player from Japan has never won a major championship, and while most will point to Hideki Matsuyama, the 17th ranked player in the world, as Japan's best hope to break the streak, there is another player entering the field with tremendous form. Hideto Tanihara, who has been a solid player on the Japan Tour for 13 years, qualified for the US Open and Open Championship in the span of six days. He ended up making the cut at the US Open, and is coming off of two straight victories on the Japan Tour. He has five top 10's in his last seven starts, including his two victories, and has risen to 69th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Tanihara only has one top 10 in a major, but it came at the Open Championship (2006 at Royal Liverpool). This will be his first start at The Open since 2008, but a strong finish can guarantee a return trip next year, as well as a tee time at Augusta National.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm made a huge gamble. As the number one ranked amateur in the world, Rahm had a spot in the Open Championship available to him. Instead, after finishing T23 at the US Open, Rahm turned professional, formfitting his exemption into the Open. He was hoping a strong finish at the Quicken Loans National, his first event as a pro, would get him into the field. The gamble worked, as he finished 3rd and re-earned his tee time. Rahm also finished T5 at the Phoenix Open, and T10 in Mexico as an amateur. No stage seems too large for Rahm. Fearless young players seem to contend in majors more frequently these days, and Rahm fits that personality perfectly.
Thongchai Jaidee
The Open Championship has provided older players a last shot at glory in recent years. Prior to Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Darren Clarke raising the trophy, the Open was the site of past champions Tom Watson and Greg Norman coming close to winning one final time late in their careers. Thongchai Jaidee, the 46 year old from Thailand, has never finished inside the top 10 at a major despite his 19 worldwide victories. Jaidee returned to the winner's circle at the French Open two weeks ago, and his best major success has come in the Open Championship, with a T13 back in 2009 and four made cuts entering this year. Jaidee won't have many opportunities left to compete in a major, and this may be the best chance he's had in years to finally achieve some level of success on the biggest stage.