Bradley Neil is getting his second taste of professional golf in South Africa this season, as the young Perthshire star steps up his Masters preparation.
The Amateur champion has received an invitation to play the Joburg Open on the European Tour.
This follows on from a similar opportunity in December in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, when the Blairgowrie Golf Club member made the half-way cut.
South Africa’s Richard Sterne is attempting to win the Joburg Open this week for the third time in its nine-year history.
The tournament is played out over two courses.
The first two rounds take place over the East and West Course, with the last two then completed on the East, and new European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is included in the field.
George Coetzee achieved his first victory on the European Tour here last year and secured one of the three qualifying places on offer for the Open Championship along with fellow South African Justin Walters and Jin Jeong of South Korea.
The 28-year-old went on to finish 18th at Royal Liverpool and is already exempt for this year’s Open at St Andrews, but the majority of the rest of the field will again be chasing those three qualifying places available for anyone finishing in the top 10.
“I was absolutely delighted to qualify for the Open at the Joburg Open last year,” Coetzee said. “It was a brilliant added bonus that came with the win. It’s a great idea to give guys the opportunity to qualify at Tour events and it means everyone has a lot to play for with places in a major championship at stake.
“It is an amazing experience to play in the Open and I received tremendous support from the galleries at Hoylake. I was pleased to finish in the top 20 and it gives me great confidence for this year. I am really looking forward to playing in my first Open at St Andrews and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere there.”