The world class field includes two previous Walker Cup players, Philip Rowe and Nigel Edwards, and a further 18 players from the Great Britain and Ireland Elite Squad - including Graham Gordon, Stuart Manley, Graeme Clark, Lee Harpin, Farren Keenan, Matthew Richardson, Daniel Wardrop, Michael Skelton and Lee Corfield. All these players will be hoping for a performance that will put them in good stead for Walker Cup 2003 selection and the match against the USA at Ganton in September.
Brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are two of the four Italian contenders. Francesco is Italy's leading amateur player and capped a successful 2002 by finishing top of the country's order of merit. For several years he and his brother have been regulars in the Italian international team.
Other top players from overseas include Americans, Andy Matthews, John Hamm, John Pate, Randolph Haag, Trey Owen and Robert Gerwin II, all potential winners with handicaps of +2 and better.
Local interest will be focused on three players: Richard Hooper, Gary Sharp and Kevin Hastie, all members of the St Andrews Golf Club. Defending champion, Simon Mackenzie will be another familiar face in the starting line up, having competed in the tournament every year since its inception in 1989.
Since then, only Stuart Bouvier of Australia has succeeded in taking the trophy overseas - but with such a world class field, could another name from outside the home nations be destined for the silverware in 2003?