Southport, England: He may not have one of the most recognisable faces among competitors at the 154th Open Championship. But, at six-foot five inches tall, Marcus Plunkett stands head and shoulders above most of his rivals in the 156-player starting line-up. Report by Spencer Robinson – Asian Tour contributor.

Despite sitting a lowly 777th in the Official World Golf Ranking, the 32-year-old American has been garnering plenty of attention ahead of his Major debut at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. And not just because of his height.

As he completed a final practice session on the range within metres of his Major-winning compatriots Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau, Plunkett could have been forgiven for pinching himself.

“It’s awesome. This is as cool as it gets,” said the man who hails from Atlantic Beach, Florida and who currently sits in 20th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

By any measure, Plunkett’s journey in golf is unusual and serves to explain why he’s intent on soaking up every moment at the sun-drenched Lancashire links this week.

Marcus Plunkett holds up The Open pin flag after qualifying for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale at Dundonald Links Golf Course in June. Picture by Ross Parker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

He played college golf at the United States Military Academy at West Point and was named 2013 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Three years later he was part of the Army team that won the 2016 Patriot League Championship.

He then hung up his golf clubs and served five years as a transportation officer in the US Army, including deployments in South Korea, Colorado and Afghanistan.

He returned to competitive golf towards the end of his military career, turning professional in 2021 and played on the Korn Ferry Tour. When he lost his playing rights there, he decided to try his luck in Asia and made it through Q-School.

From five events this year, he’s made four cuts and enjoyed joint sixth-place finishes at the IGPL Bharath Classic in India and the Singapore Open.

Those encouraging performances persuaded him to head to Scotland to take part in Final Qualifying for The Open at Dundonald Links. Defying the odds, he posted rounds of 69 and 72 to secure the fifth and final spot on offer at golf’s self-proclaimed ‘original championship’.

Having waited so long for his moment in the global golfing spotlight, Plunkett is unconcerned that he won’t tee-off until 4.10 pm on Thursday in the penultimate flight of the opening day alongside Naoyuki Kataoka of Japan and Norway’s Baard Bjoenevik Skogen.

Simply being here makes the wait worthwhile.

Main picture: Marcus Plunkett. Picture by Getty Images.