McElroy is one of the main attractions of the eleventh tournament of the Gecko Tour held this Thursday on the Marbella Club Golf Resort course. The young Northern Irish golfer went pro mid-year last year and is now taking his first steps in his professional career. It’s never easy to make the jump. He didn’t make it in his first attempt to win the European Tour card and the Challenge through the Qualifying School, but he is, without a doubt, a golfer to follow closely. His track record as an amateur is impressive. He was champion of Ireland (west) in 2015 and was member of the European team in the prestigious Walker Cup on two occasions (2011 and 2013). His similarity to McIlroy is not only in his last name, although evidently Rory at the moment is solely an extraordinary reference for him, a lighthouse with which to illuminate his incipient career path.

The Gecko and the Marbella Club Golf Resort provide an excellent opportunity to see such an imminent up-and-coming player in action these next couple years in the upper echelon of world golf. James Robinson is another one to watch this week, golfer who had the European Tour card this year, for instance. He wasn’t able to maintain it and has opted to play in the Gecko to prepare for his return to the Challenge. Robinson has already played in the Gecko in the past and it ended up being the best transition to the European Tour. He’s now decided to test his luck by going back to the same routine.

Other names that stand out in this tournament are Gabriel Cañizares, Manuel Quirós, Marcos Pastor and Mark Tullo, players who have already proved their worth in the European Tour and the Challenge. Winners from the Gecko will also be present, such as Alex Belt, Andreas Andersson and Luke Johnson.

The first game this Thursday will commence starting at nine in the morning and the last at 10:20 am. It’s worth it to make the trip to Marbella. Lots of golf to be seen in the latest Gecko tournament.