Amateur champion Bradley Neil is back in the company of World number one golfer Rory McIlroy.
The three-time major winner took Perthshire’s Neil under his wing at Augusta last month, when the pair played a practice round together as well as the pre-tournament par three competition.
It was at The Masters that the Northern Irishman handed Neil an invite to the Irish Open, a competition McIlroy’s charitable foundation are sponsoring.
And the two young men were back practising together again yesterday on the Royal County Down links.
Blairgowrie Golf Club member Neil will be hoping for a stronger performance than in his last outing with the professionals in America, where he missed the cut as he did at The Open last year.
But being back on Irish turf could bring out the best in him.
Just under a year ago the 19-year-old won the Amateur championship at Portrush.
Neil said: “I got my invite from Rory and it makes it all the more special that he is here. He has been able to attract all the big names to Northern Ireland this week, so it makes it more special for me and all the other amateurs who are playing in it.
“Whenever I have been in Ireland I have yet to play a bad golf course and this one is ranked right up there.
“I played at Portrush last year and this course looks just as beautiful. Obviously I am thrilled to be here and excited to get out on the course as see what everyone is raving about.”
McIlroy failed to make the cut in the PGA championship at Wentworth last week, but Neil believes that may prove to be a blessing in disguise for this week’s event.
He pointed out: “Two wins out of the last four weeks is just incredible and although he didn’t make the cut last week it just shows that he is human.
“Obviously he’ll be happy that he got the weekend off, and got a rest and could prepare well for this tournament. He’ll want to win this as much as any tournament, this will be like a fifth major to him. I’m looking forward to seeing how he plays this week.”
Neil is expected to turn pro after the US Open – the last big tournament to which he has an invite on the back of his Amateur triumph.