Homegrown sensation Calum Scott was overcome with emotion as he joined the elite ranks of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Rose in winning the prestigious Open Silver Medal for top amateur. However, he has made the wise decision to resist the temptation of turning pro immediately.

The 20-year-old from Nairn in the Scottish Highlands received a hero’s welcome as he finished the tournament at eight over, a remarkable three strokes clear of his nearest challengers, Denmark’s Jacob Olesen and America’s Tommy Morrison.

Scott’s impressive performances this week have catapulted him into the spotlight, earning him the reputation of being a “hot property” in the golfing world. His powerful drives off the tee have drawn comparisons to the likes of Ryder Cup sensation Ludvig Aberg, who also attended Texas Tech, the same American college Scott currently attends.

As Scott approached the final green, he was visibly emotional, waving his cap to the thunderous applause from the 18th grandstands, which included his friends and family. Despite the euphoria of his achievement, he remained level-headed, choosing not to abandon his Sports Management degree, which still has a year to run.

Scott managed to overcome a late wobble as he finished the tournament at eight over

“Super-happy, excited, buzzing, relieved as well,” beamed Scott as he reflected on his emotions after achieving this remarkable feat. “There have been a bunch of Silver Medal winners that have gone on to do incredible things. It’s one of the highest honours you can win as an amateur. I’m very proud of myself.”

Scott’s decision to complete his degree is a wise one, given the cautionary tales of other golfers who turned pro too soon. His coach, Greg Sands, praised Scott, describing him as a “freak” physically, with a powerful build and incredible driving ability.

Scott’s achievement is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He led his fellow amateurs by three strokes overnight and played a nerveless front nine, including a 365-yard drive into the third that was significantly further than Dustin Johnson managed in the match behind.

The Scottish Highlands will celebrate Scott’s victory, and if his career trajectory is anything like Aberg’s, he’s going to have many more fantastic moments ahead. “Ludvig is a great role model for other golfers,” he said. “I got to spend two years with him. We knew he was good, but we didn’t know he was that good! He’s a proper nice and humble guy, great to get advice from. Yeah, I’d be happy to follow in his footsteps.”

Greg Sands was full of praise for Scott and described him as being a ‘freak’ physically 

Scott managed to finish three clear of his nearest challengers Jacob Olesen (L) and Tommy Morrison (R)