MARTIN KAYMER

To win

To lead after the first round

I’ve tipped Kaymer each-way this week, and he looks very likely to start well at the Renaissance Club.

The two-time major winner has hit form with three finishes of 16th or better in his last four starts, and he is regularly playing well in the first round.

Kaymer opened with a T10 (66) at last week’s Irish Open, and that followed a T2 (67) at the BMW International Open, a T16 (69) at the US Open and a T3 (67) at the Memorial Tournament.

Few players have posted such consistent results in the first round of tournaments, so the 34-year-old – who hasn’t won since his 2014 US Open triumph – is a must-back on Thursday.

ERIK VAN ROOYEN

To win

To lead after the first round

Van Rooyen was four-under-par after 12 holes at last week’s Irish Open, but then bogeyed four of the last six to finish the first round level.

He went on to miss the cut, but should bounce back this week given that he has a good history of results in links events.

Van Rooyen led after 54 holes at the Irish Open last year, and was joint-second after round one at the Open Championship a few weeks later.

While he is still yet to win his first event on the European Tour, the 29-year-old South African has made a habit of getting into contention and looks a good bet to make another fast start at Renaissance.

GAVIN GREEN

To win

To lead after the first round

Green’s T9 at the Irish Open was his second successive top-10 finish and the third in his last four starts.

The Malaysian fired a first-round 66 at Lahinch and shot that score or better on three of the four days.

Green has been inside the top 10 at the end of the first day in each of his last three starts, having opened with a T2 (66) at the Andalucia Masters and a T6 (69) at the BMW International Open.

The 25-year-old is clearly in good nick and rarely starts poorly, having missed just one cut in his last 10 starts dating back to March.