ANTHONY Keenan's house has begun to resemble a Nike shop.
The 18-year-old Burnley player has been receiving free gifts from the sportswear manufacturers, who just happen to be sponsoring the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championships which start at Sea Island, Georgia, on Tuesday.
Keenan, of course, is on the plane to the States having qualified for the final in third place with an impressive five under par -- going off the standard scratch scores -- 66 at the Blackburn Junior Open just three weeks ago.
"I am very excited," said the former Habergham High School pupil. "I am not really nervous. I know a few of the players who are going and I know I can compete."
Keenan, who has played at County level and plays off one, will come up against England Boys internationals playing off handicaps as low as plus two.
"Daniel Wardrup and Michael Skelton are probably the favourites," he said. "They qualified above me with six under and they have just won the Home Internationals with England Boys."
Wardrup, Skelton and sponsors selection Farren Keenan, who is no relation, all play off plus two, but Burnley's Keenan knows he has a chance to pull off a win that could open many doors for him.
"I know I can win but only if I play like I can. And I don't know whether I will play like I can, because that's how golf is. Sometimes you don't play well.
"The difference between me and players like Daniel and Michael is just consistency. I have played with them before and I can hit it as well as them, but they never give shots away. The chipping and putting is important, obviously, but it is consistency more than anything.
"This is one of the top competitions in junior golf. All the top players want to get to the final. I will just be trying to shoot as low a score as possible.
"It would be nice to maybe get some sponsorship out of it so I can carry on playing full-time next year, but I don't want to take it further and turn pro yet, if at all. I think I am too young."
Keenan and the other 11 boys and nine girls who travel out to Sea Island -- where the Walker Cup was played this year -- beat off competition from around 35,000 young players from around the country to reach the final.
Keenan said that was the best prize.
"Just getting to go to play in America is the best part about getting to the final," he said. "I don't even know what you get if you win."
The prize is simply the prestige that goes with being the champion but win or not, Keenan is sure to have plenty of clothes to wear in the coming months.
"Nike have sent me t-shirts, trousers, golf shoes, bags, socks, polo shirts, umbrellas -- they just keep sending me stuff!"
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