McNicoll focused on Powerade challenge after hectic open

Keir McNicoll heads to the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship next week still buoyed by sampling Muirfield mania.

The 28-year-old former amateur star is based at Gullane Golf Club which helped sell Open merchandise to thousands of golf fans.

McNicoll will be hoping to emulate Open champion Phil Mickelson and strike his own rich vein of form in the final of the Powerade event which carries a prize fund of £32,500 and is supported by FootJoy and will be staged at Coventry Golf Club from August 7-9.

The Scot admitted it had been a hectic but enjoyable period at Gullane during the Open.

“Because Muirfield doesn’t have a golf shop, they use Gullane during the Open as it’s next door which meant dealing with all the fans who want to buy merchandise and stuff like that during the tournament,” he said.

“It was a busy few days with a great buzz but now I can look forward to Coventry and concentrate on that.”

McNicoll, in his second year of PGA training, missed the cut at East Sussex National last year but he hopes the change to the Midlands venue will work in his favour.

“I’m really excited about the tournament, it’s a big event and although I didn’t do so well last year, it was a great experience,” he added.

“I’ve certainly never played at Coventry before but I’ll enjoy it I’m sure.

“My main objective is to play better than I did last year and to improve on that result.”

McNicoll has a rich playing pedigree representing Scotland in four Home Internationals and winning some of the country’s most prestigious events including the St Andrews Links Trophy.

He went into the record books in 2008 by becoming the first Scottish player to reach a plus six handicap.

Originally from Carnoustie, Keir completed his university studies in the USA as part of a golf scholarship, gaining an honours degree in Business Administration.

As part of his PGA training, McNicoll will develop his awareness of the physical, mental, and nutritional aspects of golf plus equipment technology, sports science and the business and marketing element of the golf industry.

Other Scottish players taking part at Coventry include Paul O’Hara (Clydeway Golf);  Ewan MacPherson (Auchterarder);  Paul Robinson  (Largs);  Christrian MacLeod (Loch Ness); Colin Robinson (Prestonfield);  Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle);  and  Martin Shaw (Whitecraigs Golf Club).