The only way is up

They say a little bit of hard work goes a long way – well that has certainly been the case for amateur champion Bradley Neil and his PGA pro Kevin Hale.

The 18 year old, widely recognised as British golf’s brightest young thing, has had a stunning 12 months topped by an appearance at the Open in June.

His performances have been enough to alert the officials behind some of the UK’s most esteemed awards panels.

Neil claimed the Scottish Young Sports Personality of the Year earlier this month and has been nominated for the BBC’s UK-wide equivalent, as previously won by Andy Murray, Wayne Rooney and Tom Daley.

But for St Andrews Links PGA pro Hale, the reasons for Neil’s success are no mystery, because he regularly witnesses the way in which the talented teen applies himself on the practice ground.

The duo’s partnership has blossomed over the last four years, and as a result Hale will have donned his tuxedo at both glittering Glasgow ceremonies by the end of this month.

He collected the Scottish award on behalf of Neil earlier this month and he will do the same should the teenager come out on top at the BBC’s event.

Meanwhile the youngster has passed up the opportunity to be heralded in front of thousands, instead training at a warm-weather camp in Dubai before heading to his first European Tour event proper – the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

Hale, who coached at the Belfry before taking up his current position at St Andrews, used the chance to cool the inevitable talk that his client will one day take over Rory McIlroy’s mantel and become the best in the country.

The message coming from inside the camp is that they’re taking it one event at a time.

Scottish Golf Union man Hale took over as Neil’s coach four years ago, guiding the prodigious talent to a Scottish boys’ under-14s championship within weeks of their collaboration commencing.

This year has been the talented teenager’s finest to-date with appearances at the Open Championship and the Junior Ryder Cup. Victory in the Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush can be thrown in for good measure.

“He’s unbelievable to work with,” Hale explained. “His feet are firmly on the ground and he wants to work hard and achieve all of the goals we set him.

“Ultimately it’s a coach’s dream when your player thinks about what you’re asking them to do and comes back with more ideas.

“That’s what Bradley does. He doesn’t just go off and mindlessly do what I tell him to, he’s always thinking, always challenging things, always coming up with ideas.”

The youngster’s game has been a work in progress since the duo teamed up in 2010.

That came after a succession of top-level pros helped to mould Neil’s game. Ian Rae, Spencer Henderson and PGA rules official Charles Dernie all sculpted their own pieces of the finished product along the way.

“It’s difficult to point out a weak area that we’ve had to improve,” Hale considered.

“He was already a very good player when I started working with him, it was just about tweaking a few aspects of his game.

“We’ve worked on everything, but over the last four years he has become much better at course management and putting.

“He’s lowering his scores simply because he’s getting the ball into better positions around the green, and when he’s there he’s being more professional and clinical.

Hale, who also works with the St Andrews University ladies’ team, has a keen eye for talent, developed over the course of a decade in the business.

But he admitted that mental desire, commitment and work ethic are paramount for potential elite-level golfers.

“It’s a strange one because a lot of people seem to think you’re born with a talent for golf and that’s it,” he said.

“But the best golfers work extremely hard and get themselves prepared mentally too. Bradley understands that these things are vital if he wants to reach the top of the game.

“He’s a one-off in terms of the level he’s reached, but you do see some talented golfers fall by the wayside because they don’t feel the need to work hard, whereas some of the less talented ones actually go on to do quite well.

“There’s no substitute for hard work and enthusiasm in golf.”

So what could the future hold for the young Scot?

“We’re trying not to get too carried away,” Hale stated.

“It’s difficult to predict exactly what he’ll go on to achieve, but I can tell you we have some high aspirations and lofty goals.”

“It would be amazing to see him playing on tour regularly and also playing in the sport’s biggest events – I know he has his eyes on the Masters and the US Open.

“Bradley knows how important it is that he continues as he is. He needs to carry on preparing himself properly to ensure that he goes forward, makes the most of his ability, and achieves everything he wants to achieve.