British Amateur champion Brian McElhinney has received the last available invitation to this week's Nissan Irish Open at Carton House Golf Club.
The Donegal won €624 at the Golf Club di Milano after finishing in a tie for 43rd place on level par 284 - 13 behind the winner, Alvaro Salto of Spain.
McElhinney will be making his first ever appearance in Ireland's National Open Championship.
"I'm definitely looking forward to it," he said. "I have never played in one so it will be good to play in my first one. Carton House is a good course. It's tough and, like most Tour courses you have to be long and accurate off the tees. We played an Irish Amateur Championship there (2004) and I finished tied eighth.
"It should be a good week with all the big players there – especially Harrington Clarke and McGinley.
"They are all players that I think every Irish player looks up to - you just look at how hard they have worked to get to where they have in the game and you know how much it takes to get up there and be one of the best in the world.
"I went to one of the Irish Opens at Druids Glen in the mid 1990s and followed Monty round for a bit. He was right at the top of his game then and was amazing to watch him play. We're on his course next week as well and it will be the best field I have played in as a professional so am looking forward to it."
