Association of Golf Writers (AGW) President, Jock MacVicar, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 83, is to be honoured with a new trophy.

The Jock MacVicar AGW Memorial Award will be presented to the leading Scottish player in the abrdn Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on 8-11 July.

The trophy has been commissioned by the European Tour on the AGW’s behalf to commemorate the man known fondly by friends and colleagues as ‘The Doyen’.

AGW chairman Martin Dempster said: “We are grateful for the European Tour’s generosity in commissioning this magnificent trophy in memory of a dear friend and colleague.

“Jock was at his happiest covering European Tour events, both at home and abroad, and this is a fitting tribute to the legendary and proud Scottish Daily Express man.

“There will be a sense of sadness at both The Renaissance Club and Royal St George’s over the next couple of weeks due to Jock’s absence at the Scottish Open and The Open.

“However, it will be exciting for Robert MacIntyre, Stephen Gallacher, David Law and the other home players to have an opportunity to be the first person to get their hands on the new Jock MacVicar AGW Memorial Award in the first of these two big events on British soil.”

Scott Crockett, European Tour Communications Director, said: “To most people, Jock MacVicar was golf in Scotland and his passing in April is still keenly felt, not only by those around the game, but right across sports journalism as a whole.

“Our Chief Executive Keith Pelley was delighted to present Jock with a European Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 in recognition of so many years writing about and promoting our sport, and we are therefore honoured to join forces with the AGW to commission this new award in his memory.

“The abrdn Scottish Open is one of the premier events on our International Schedule and, therefore, to have Jock’s name permanently associated with it moving forward is entirely appropriate.

“Every Scottish professional who competes on the European Tour not only knew Jock but respected him too and I know, whichever player becomes the first recipient of the Jock MacVicar AGW Memorial Award on Sunday night, will be very proud.”

Four-time European Tour winner and Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher confirmed that will be the case, saying: “The introduction of the Jock MacVicar AGW Memorial Award for the leading home player in the abrdn Scottish Open is a great touch.

“Jock was a legend and always enjoyed watching players progress in their careers after first coming across them in the Scottish Boys Championship.

“I know the Scottish Open was one of his favourite events of the year and well done to the European Tour for commissioning this new trophy on behalf of the AGW.”