Shinkwin credits caddie for meteoric rise in Oman

Callum Shinkwin has credited the experience of his caddie David McNeilly – who has carried the bag for such luminaries as Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington – to his march towards European Tour graduation at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.

The young Englishman earned his way to the European Challenge Tour’s season finale courtesy of some big results at major events during the 2015 campaign, including a tied third place finish at the Kazakhstan Open.

But it is the big-time experience of the man on the bag who has played a big part in his rise through Europe’s top developmental tour, which has culminated in his being on the brink of graduation following a four under par third round of 68 which put him in a tie for the overnight lead on seven under par.

“I just stayed patient all day today really,” said the 22 year old. “I got off to a nice start with a couple of birdies in the first four holes, and then I bogeyed a couple of par threes which were playing tough.

“Then I got aggressive towards the 14th and it paid off. I hit a couple of really good iron shots into 15 and 17.

“I’m quite a relaxed person as it is, so I’ll just try not to think about it. I’ll look at the scores at the end of the day and hopefully come out tomorrow and play good golf again.

“I have a really good caddie on the bag and we have a really good laugh together, we’re all smiles out there and just making joked. Once it comes down to go time on every shot, it’s go time.

“I played in Sweden during the year and had two European Tour events in a row, taking a break from Challenge Tour, and I managed to poach him through my management company, because he used to work with Matteo Manassero.

“Ever since then, he’s wanted to stick with me, he saw some talent – I don’t know where from but he saw it – and I’ve managed to keep him.

“He started on Nick Faldo’s bag, who is from Hertfordshire where I’m from, so it’s nice he’s coming back to that North London area again.”

Shinkwin happened to be grouped with American John Hahn, who aced the eighth hole on a dramatic day at Almouj Golf, the Wave, but while that magic moment was cause for inspiration, it was also cause for a little bit of physical pain for the Londoner.

“Actually John gave me a sore hand after the hole in one when he high-fived me,” he said. “I had a red hand for the rest of the hole. But he had a great run and he should have been a couple better too, he played great.”

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