From the Other Tiger to Christo Lamprecht, Here Are the Cubs Looking Forward to Put Cameron Smith in a Tough Position in the Royal Liverpool Field

After the successful completion of the US Open, the golf world is ready for its next major: the Open Championship. The 151st Open Championship has begun at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake. Due to the fact that it is the oldest golf tournament, it is a highly anticipated athletic event.

For the coveted trophy, all top-notch players will be there on the course to strengthen their legacies. This includes Cameron Smith, the reigning champion. But there are also several tough amateurs on the course, and their presence on the field could endanger Smith’s trophy. Find out who the best amateurs are who are competing in the Open Championship.

1. ‘Tiger’ Woods namesake in the field

Well, many Tiger Woods fans were disappointed that the legend would not be able to participate in the major. But to their delight, another Tiger will be present on the field. 19-year-old Tiger Christensen is a German amateur who is all set to compete in the Open.

In 2021, he won the Jacques Léglise Trophy and the European Boys’ Team Championship. And this year, he qualified for his major at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. He placed in the top six in one of the last 36-hole qualifiers for the Open Championship to secure entrance. On the day’s final six holes, he made three birdies to secure his place. Fun fact: He also smashed Tiger Woods’ odd record with his entry.

2. An amateur Spaniard is up for the trophy grab

Another 19-year-old amateur golfer, José Luis Ballester Barrio is all set to grab his first major trophy. In 2020, he won the Spanish Amateur at Real Club Sevilla Golf. For his win, he defeated Jannik De Bruyn of Germany in the final.

In 2023, he won the European Amateur by two strokes at Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia. His notable win got him an invitation to the 2023 Open Championship. His game has been strong, and we can’t wait to see his game at the Royal Liverpool.

3. Second Major for the Australian Amateur

This year, 21-year-old Australian Harrison Crowe, has secured a spot for himself in two majors. First, he appeared at the Masters. And now he is ready to tee it up for the Open Championship.

In 2022, Crowe won the 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand by one stroke over China’s Bo Jin. He became the first Australian Champion to win that. He represented his nation at the Eisenhower Trophy in France in 2022 as well. In the Australian Amateur this year, he came in fifth. Additionally, he finished second in the New South Wales Amateur.

With so many accomplishments to his credit, we are eager to see what kind of game he will bring to the Open arena.

4. Argentinian amateur in the major’s field

The 23-year-old golfer Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, who hails from Argentina, is all set for his third major of the year. He received an exemption to compete in The Masters, US Open, and Open Championship after winning the 2023 Latin America Amateur Championship.

He was the first Argentinean player to be chosen for the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2022. In that contest, he helped his team defeat Team USA. He will undoubtedly be a fierce rival for Smith, given his command of the game.

5. South African Amateur strong game on the field

Christo Lamprecht, known for his height of 6 ft. 8 inches, is all set to give Smith strong competition. He qualified to compete in the Open Championship thanks to his victory in the Amateur Championship this year. He is also eligible for the Masters and the US Open in 2024, in addition to the Open.

His victory was notable since he was the third South African to win The Amateur Championship in the previous six years. In 2017, he became the youngest player to win the South African Amateur Championship. In the 2022 US Amateur, he tied for sixth place, whereas in the European Amateur Championship, he tied for ninth place. After his notable victory in 2023, he climbed to third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

6. The Irishman bounced back to claim the victory

Last year, Alex Maguire narrowly missed his chance at the Open, where he watched Smith claim the title. He recovered this time, though, and was prepared to give Smith a difficult ride.

With a five-shot victory in the St. Andrews Links Trophy and a performance in the quarterfinals of the Amateur Championship, Maguire easily earned a spot at Royal Liverpool. The week is getting better and better for him since he got the chance to play with 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed in the practice round at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The session must have been beneficial for him, and we can’t wait to see what game play he brings to the field.

Do you have favorites among them? Let us know in the comments below.