Mackrell fishing for Fourball success at Carden Park

Tony Mackrell is hoping it will be third time lucky when he plays in the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship final.

Mackrell - of East Kilbride’s Playsport Golf - is teaming up with colleague Peter Scanlan for the £35,000 Skycaddie & BMW supported event to be held at Cheshire’s Carden Park course between August 12-14.

But Mackrell has had little luck in the event despite twice qualifying for the final with Scott Catlin.

Now he will be aiming for an improvement after switching playing partners.

“Scott’s changed jobs now and I wasn’t sure who I’d be playing alongside in the qualifying event,” said Mackrell.

“But Peter was keen to play and so we thought ‘why not’, and we dovetailed well at Musselburgh so it bodes well for the final.

“I’ve played in it twice before with Scott - each time it was at the Forest Pines course in Lincolnshire.

“But both times we’ve missed the cut so I’ll be hoping to do better this time.

“We’re really looking forward to playing at Carden Park.

“Forest Pines was an excellent venue, but people have told me that Carden Park is fantastic as well.

“So we’ll be trying to finish in among the prize money if we can.”

Mackrell admits he is suited to the fourball format and can combine it well with current duties as a teaching professional.

“I’ve been with Playsport Golf since it opened in 2009,” he explained.

“I’m attached there as a teaching professional, so events like the Fourball Championship give me a chance to get out and compete again.

“It’s an enjoyable format and if there is any such thing as a stress free round of golf then this is it.

“And if the pressure is on then you can share it between the pair of you.

“I enjoy working at Playsport, it’s going really well, we have state of the art equipment, a nine hole course and the footfall’s been high.”

Other Scottish pairings set to play at Carden Park include: Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) and Alan Reid (West Lothian Golf Club); and Julie Otto (Elie Links) and Fraser Robertson (Lundin Golf Club).