The 21-year-old from the Balmore club has emerged as a real force in the opening weeks of the season and will tee-up over the Open Championship venue with genuine title aspirations.

McKenna was the leading Scot, in sixth place, at last year's tournament and he has returned to the Lancashire links on the back of victories in the Scottish Champion of Champions and the Battle Trophy on the domestic circuit recently.

The Glasgow youngster, who currently leads the SGU's order of merit, will be joined in an international field by a host of his countrymen, including South African Open champion Brian Soutar and James White, last year's Scottish No.1.

Paul Shields, who beat McKenna in the semi-finals of the Northern Amateur Open in South Africa in March, has also made the trip to England's golf coast.