Thompson Gedge (7) gears up for next month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles

A young up-and-coming Northern Ireland golfing star, Thompson Gedge (7) from Bangor, Co Down, is pictured as he tees up for The 2014 Ryder Cup.

It follows the announcement that his local heroes Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are set to represent Team Europe later this month.

Award-winning Thompson, who has been heralded as the ‘next Rory McIlroy’, recently returned from Scotland where he successfully competed with America’s best young golfers in the USA Kids Golf European Championship 2014.

With practice day tickets still available for The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, VisitScotland is encouraging Northern Ireland golf enthusiasts to follow in Thompson’s footsteps and experience one of the home of golf’s 550 courses.

The young golf protégée has also won Golfer of the Year for Boys and Girls Age 7-12 at the Forest Feast Golfer of the Year event and the 7 and Under Ulster Championship at the Irish Junior Masters Tour.

The Ryder Cup and Home of Golf are only a short flight or ferry away.

Northern Ireland air routes cover various cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick, Inverness and Aberdeen from local airports, George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast International Airport and City of Derry Airport.

Additional easy access routes from Northern Ireland to Scotland include short ferry trips from Belfast to Cairnryan and Larne to Troon and Cairnryan..For more information on Scotland’s famed greens and fairways, go to www.visitscotland.com/golf.