From Bothwell to Birkdale - Jack McDonald's big change of plans

The 33-year-old, who is a year into his PGA training under David Orr at Whitecraigs Golf Club on the south side of Glasgow, is teeing up in the Claret Jug event instead of an event on the Tartan Tour.

“I was down to play at the Bothwell Castle Pro-Am at the weekend,” declared McDonald, smiling, as he spoke to a group of reporters at Birkdale on Tuesday morning about his plans having changed. “This is a nice addition to the diary!”

It was secured as the Ayrshireman once again came through Final Qualifying at Dundonald Links and, having come within a shot of making the cut at Royal Troon two years ago, he is determined to be around for the weekend on this occasion.

“It obviously feels a bit different,” admitted McDonald, who has family and friends down supporting him here but not on the same level as Royal Troon, where he had a small army of fans. “I’m not as familiar with the golf course, but The Open is amazing obviously and everything that comes with it is very similar.

“I played here once before during the Walker Cup week at Lytham (in 2015, when he helped GB&I beat a US team that included Bryson DeChambeau). It’s a lot different, though, and I can’t really remember too much about it as it was that long ago (laughing). But, with the changes they’ve made, it’s a proper test of golf.

“It’s running fast out there and I don’t think there is any rain in the forecast, so I would imagine that it is going to be very firm over all four days. The firmer it gets, the more premium there will be on hitting fairways.”

McDonald, who has his friend, Kilmarnock (Barassie) head professional James Caldwell, on the bag, has been one of Scotland’s most-talented players for close to 20 years but just hasn’t managed to pull off the sort of win that can be career-changing. He can feel proud to have earned a second bite at the cherry in the event he dreamt of winning as a youngster.

“Troon was just playing almost overly difficult with the conditions - I’ve never seen it play like that,” he replied to being asked what he could learn from taking on the big boys two years ago and almost getting to do so for another two days. “How fast the fairways were and how firm the greens were even though they were quite green. I’m just here to enjoy it. What will be will be. Yeah, it is going to be such a great week, no matter what.”

Ironically, this opportunity has come around nine months after McDonald said he was calling time on his career as a tour professional after recording a seven-shot success in the Tartan Pro Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire.

Keen to stay involved in the golf industry, he decided it was time to go down the PGA route - describing it as a “great organisation” - and, no matter what happens this week, he will be back at the coalface next week at Whitecraigs. “I don’t know if I was expecting it to happen or not,” he said of playing in The Open again, “but I’m here now, so I’m going to enjoy it.”