David Mckenzie will reap the rewards of a brilliant 2017 campaign when he tees up in his first PGA TOUR Champions event of the year at the Boca Raton Championship in Florida this week.

McKenzie turned 50 the week of the Senior British Open in 2017 and wasted no time making his mark in the over-50’s ranks with a T9 finish at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.

He then parlayed that good from into qualifying for a further four events in the US and by season’s end had amassed enough earnings to claim conditional status on the Champions Tour.

A T12 finish at the annual Q-School has further enhanced his position and he will be motivated for a big week in his first start of the year.

Popular among his peers, McKenzie is an accomplished player without being a prolific winner and could prove a surprise for many Americans unfamiliar with him.