Phil helps Hoey bag some silverware Stand-in caddie enjoys success in tour event
Stand- in caddie Phil McKenna enjoyed a memorable experience at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Blairgowrie Golf Club member was on the bag of Northern Irish player Michael Hoey for the unique and popular European Tour event.
And it proved to be a successful partnership across Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the famous Old Course in St Andrews.
Hoey, who has been playing on the Challenge Tour this season, finished the high-profile tournament in 24th on eight-under par.
He also celebrated a special victory in the team competition alongside Maeve Danaher with an impressive total of 36-under.
McKenna has previously caddied for Bradley Neil - including at The Masters - and it was the Perthshire pro who put him in touch with Hoey.
“I got a message around the middle of August from Bradley,” McKenna (50) explained. “He is on the Challenge Tour with Michael and they know each other quite well.
“Michael had asked Bradley if he knew anyone who could caddie at the Dunhill. That is when I got the message.
“I had done the Dunhill five or six times, both with pros and amateurs. I checked my diary and said I would love to do it.”
McKenna walked the courses to gather as much information as possible before meeting up with Hoey on Tuesday of last week.
“I met Michael on the Tuesday and we walked the Old Course to make sure we were happy with lines off the tees,” McKenna said.
“And on Wednesday we had nine holes at Kingsbarns, then shot across to Carnoustie for nine. We were really well prepped.
“You need to adjust very quickly and you would always like more time. You need to understand what type of shots the player can play.
“Does he draw the ball? Fade the ball? Is he long off the tee or short? What sort of distances are his irons going? Can he play in wind?
“You need to identify all of that very quickly on the range and it is just through watching and conversation.
“But Michael knows his game brilliantly and he actually first played in the tournament 20 years ago as an amateur in 2001.
“He won it in 2011 and, coincidentally, has now won the team event in 2021. Ten year anniversaries seem to be lucky for him!
“It was a massive week for Michael. Not just to show he can still compete on the main tour, but the financial aspect is so big too.
“He is currently sitting 32nd on the Challenge Tour order of merit. To get his full European Tour card, he needs to be top 20.
“He has three events left so it’s still very much in his sights.”
While McKenna has walked the fairways at three Majors, he is forever impressed with the quality of these professional golfers.
“I’m off a four handicap just now - a reasonably decent standard - but it is a totally different game,” he admitted.
“I’m used to it now as I’ve been around it a while, caddying in three Majors and other European Tour events.
“But up close, it’s still awesome to see how these guys strike the ball and get it around the golf course.
“Michael’s short game is dynamite. In the windy conditions, the way he was getting up and down from some strange positions was amazing.”
Enjoying a successful week on the bag fuels McKenna’s passion for the sport even more and, while becoming a full-time caddie is not on the horizon just yet, he is sure to be back involved in the not too distant future.
“I love the caddying,” he smiled. “I’ve made a conscious decision to caddie more, certainly on a parttime basis.
“I’ve already chatted about doing some events in the future with both Michael and Bradley.
“I’m available to help these guys out as and when necessary but, on a full-time basis, it is not for me just yet.”
• Auchterarder’s Rory Franssen was handed an invite to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Playing in the team event, he partnered up with Portuguese pro Ricardo Santos and their three-round total came in at 13-under par.
It proved another strong week of tournament golf for Crook of Devon pro Calum Hill, a former Muckhart Golf Club member.
The 26-year-old carded rounds of 73, 69, 70 and 67 to finish on nine-under par, which placed him tied 17th overall.