The Shootout For The Silver Medal At The Open Championship

We take a look at the amateurs in this year’s Open Championship aiming to win the Silver Medal

The Shootout for the Silver Medal at The Open Championship

After some heroic performances by amateurs in recent times at The Open Championship, we take a look at the players in this year’s field aiming to make the same impact and take home the Silver Medal

The Shootout for the Silver Medal at The Open Championship

The Silver Medal, awarded to the leading amateur at the Open Championship, has had some illustrious winners over the years.

Amateurs have always played an integral part in the story of this great championship, with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both taking the crown before going on to win the title as a professional.

Related: How to pick an Open winner

Other notable recent performances have come from Justin Rose pitching in on 18 to finish fourth as a 17-year-old at Birkdale in 1998 and Chris Wood finishing T5 at the same venue ten years later.

The Shootout For The Silver Medal At The Open Championship

Last time the Open was held at Birkdale, Chris Wood won the Silver Medal. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

At St Andrews in 2015, Irishman Paul Dunne becoming the first amateur since 1927 to lead golf’s most prestigious tournament after 54 holes.

Unfortunately the pressure proved too much for the 22-year-old and he slipped back to finish tied for 30th.

Related: Open Championship Contenders 2017

This year, there are five amateurs in the field battling it out for the silver medal.

Maverick McNealy

Maverick McNealy currently lies at #2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and is the amateur carrying the most hype this week at Birkdale.

He qualified through finishing 2016 as #1 in the WAGR.

His Dad is a billionaire and Maverick was thought to be torn between business and professional golf, but he has said he is planning to turn pro after the Walker Cup later this year.

He studied at Stanford, like Tiger Woods, and notched 11 wins in his time there - just like Tiger did.

Harry Ellis

The Englishman won this year's Amateur Championship at Royal St George's where he came back from 3 down with 4 to play to win in extra holes.

That win also qualified him for the Masters and US Open next year.

Continues below

Expand Open Championship Golf Betting Tips 2019 – Final Round

open championship golf betting tips

Open Championship Golf Betting Tips 2019 – Final Round

Who is going to make you some money…

Expand The Open Tee Times 2017: Final Round

Jordan Spieth Matt Kuchar The Open Tee Times 2017

The Open Tee Times 2017: Final Round

Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar are in the…

Expand Open Championship Prize Money: How Does It Compare To Other Sports?

Open Championship Prize Money: How Does It Compare

Open Championship Prize Money: How Does It Compare To Other Sports?

The Champion Golfer of the Year wins $2.07m…

Alfie Plant

The Englishman, who plays his golf at Sundridge Park in Kent, won the 2017 European Amateur Championship at Walton Heath.

He played his Tuesday practice round in the company of world #2 Hideki Matsuyama and his compatriot Hideto Tanihara.

He said, “This is one event I’ve wanted to play in since I was a kid.

"I was like most kids in that I used to stand on the putting green imagining I was trying to hole a putt to win The Open.

"You dream of these days and now it’s about to come true for me."

Connor Syme

The Scot came through final qualifying at Gailes Links last month, finishing joint 1st at the Glasgow course at -4 for two rounds.

Syme ranks 9th in the WAGR.

He told the BBC he will not be turning professional until the end of the year.

Luca Cianchetti

The Italian won the 2016 European Amateur Championship in Estonia.

He ranks highly in the WAGR, at 21st, and has played in a number of professional events including the 2017 Rocco Forte Open in which he made the cut.

Remember that the Silver Medal will be awarded to the highest placed amateur that makes the cut.

 

David Taylor

David joined Golf Monthly in 2015 as a content editor for the magazine and regularly contributes to the website. He has worked in magazine publishing and editing since 2003. He is a keen golfer and up until recently was a member of Blackmoor Golf Club in Hampshire. He has covered various big events and tournaments for GM, the highlight of which was witnessing Tiger Woods win his 15th Major at Augusta in 2019. Email: david.taylor@futurenet.com