Open Championship rookie Paul McKechnie is being tipped for the top by the Lanarkshire coach who has a host of European Tour players under his wing.

Bothwell Castle pro Alan McCloskey also teaches Marc Warren, Scott Jamieson and Aussie ace Brett Rumford and he reckons Glasgow golfer McKechnie can still join his other clients on the main Euro circuit.

McKechnie was making his Open debut at Hoylake today after holding his nerve in a play-off at Gailes Links to secure the last place on offer in a 36-hole final qualifier.

The 37-year-old shot to prominence by topping the EuroPro Tour order of merit in 2002 and earning promotion to the second-tier Challenge Tour.

McKechnie never managed to make the big breakthrough back then but, over a decade on, he has returned to the Challenge Tour and is setting his sights high again.

McCloskey, who played in the 1988 Open at Royal Lytham, said: "Paul always has been a golfer who has been underperforming. I watched him for a couple of seasons when he was playing on the Tartan Tour, and I thought he was destined for greater things.

"He is a super enthusiast, and what he is doing now, to be honest, it should have been happening 10 years ago.

"I've always viewed Paul as someone who should be playing on the European Tour, but he wasn't working on the right programme.

"I know he is going on 40, but it's certainly not too late for him. I have no doubts his day will come.

"Playing in the Open raises his profile, and he's now really starting to get close. I say 100 per cent it's not too late for him. One of these days this is going to be another Scottish success story."

Glasgow ace Warren almost produced a Scottish success story of his own last week when he pushed himself into contention for the Scottish Open title at Royal Aberdeen.

The two-time Tour winner, whose last victory on the European circuit came at Gleneagles in 2007, shared the lead going into the final round but eventually had to settle for a share of third behind English champ Justin Rose.

McCloskey began working with Warren last month at the Irish Open and he believes the new alliance is already seeing signs of progress.

McCloskey said: "He is a highly talented individual. The great thing about Marc is that he is good at getting ball in the hole at the other end, but his long game was a wee bit erratic.

"Now the bad shots are more under control. He was very good at Gailes Links at the Open qualifying where he got through.

"Marc had a good amateur record in links golf, and I wish there was more links golf on the European Tour. For the Scots it would provide more opportunities for them.

"These days events are being played on more modern venues, but Royal Aberdeen was a great venue and a very good warm-up for the Open."