A TRIO of young golfers have enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime and teed it up with two of the sport’s stars.

Cormac Sharp, Andrew Hendry and Dylan Cairns were the lucky recipients of three spots in the Pro-Am, thanks to an invite from the Scottish Government via VisitScotland, the day before the Genesis Scottish Open teed off.

The teenage golfers played the front nine at The Renaissance Club with 2014 FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel and the back nine with Scottish DP World Tour winner – and East Lothian’s own – Grant Forrest ahead of the tournament, which was won by Xander Schauffele.

World number 14 Horschel enjoyed the experience and said: “When I look at them and think of myself at that age, they’re already more technically sound and better golfers than I was at that age.

“I think if you put in the time and really work hard then you believe in what you’re doing and good results will come, usually good things happen.”

The three Scottish players made the most of the opportunity to play with Horschel and Forrest, picking their brains on the way round and finding out what it takes to make it at the top level.

Speaking after the round, Hendry, 17, of Gullane Golf Club, said: “It was just an absolute pleasure to play in the Scottish Open Pro-Am.

“Billy was probably one of the best ball strikers I’ve ever seen and he was such an honest, humble guy.

“He gave a few pointers on the first that really helped and he was just an all-round nice guy.”

Cairns, of Royal Troon, and Sharp, of Blairgowrie, also enjoyed the experience.

Karin Sharp, chief operating officer of Scottish Golf, said: “It is a great opportunity for these young players to have had the chance to play with some of the best players in the world and is undoubtedly a valuable learning experience for them.

“It aligns with the wider values of the Scottish Golf Performance programme where we look to create the best possible player environment and opportunities for them to continue to develop.

“We recognise players as individuals and know that each one of them will take their own learnings from this great experience, which we hope will motivate, inspire and help them move their game forward.

“We’d like to thank VisitScotland for the invaluable experience for these young golfers, I’m sure it is one that will stay with them for a long time.”