The American Tom McKnight and South African Trevor Immelman, who both made the halfway cut in the Masters in April, are among players from 26 countries in the Amateur Championship at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland from May 31st to June 5th.

McKnight was runner-up in last year's US Amateur, beating Sergio Garcia in the semi-finals. Garcia had his revenge at Augusta last month. McKnight finished joint 44th, but Garcia was two strokes ahead of him in joint 38th. Two American Walker Cup players, Buddy Marucci and Duke Delcher, are also in the 288-strong field.