Eddie Pepperell hosted some of the region’s top young golfers at Frilford Heath in what the European Tour player intends to be just the start of helping to encourage the next generation.

Just over a week after holding the joint lead in The Open at St Andrews, Pepperell yesterday put on a clinic for 34 teenagers from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon (BB&O) Union, which he represented as a junior.

The world No 84, from Abingdon, gave tips on putting and bunker shots, before playing a hole with each of the groups.

Earlier this year Pepperell turned down Frilford’s offer to continue their sponsorship and instead asked for the money to be invested back into junior golf – with yesterday’s event one of the results.

It is a passion to which the 24-year-old is keen to devote more attention as his career progresses.

“As I get older more time will be allowed for that, but this is a good way to start,” he said.

“I want to give back when possible and fortunately I’m in a position where I can, both with my time and financially.

“Hopefully I can improve the lives of some young golfers and get more kids playing golf locally.

“There are some things I’d like to do moving forward.

“I would certainly like to subsidise memberships, if I could, for juniors to come, but it’s something which would need to be talked about with the club.”

The event made a big impact on BB&O player Ross Hampshire, 16, who plays at The Oxfordshire.

He said: “It’s amazing to see how it’s different from how we practise.

“I’ve learned a lot just from seeing how Eddie approaches different shots.”

Pepperell has now received confirmation his next event will be the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, from August 13.

In the meantime he has been enjoying the higher profile generated by his Open debut and was invited on to BBC TV's A Question of Sport last week, which is due to be aired next month.

He said: “I was not a tenth as nervous standing on the first tee on the final day at St Andrews as I was going on that show.

“TV is completely new to me, but it was a boyhood dream to go on.”

Despite the attention on a wider scale, Pepperell’s commitment locally is valued, according to Frilford’s general manager, Jimmy James.

He said: “What he’s doing for the juniors and his involvement with the BB&O partnership, which has a massive influence on junior golf in the local area, is tremendous.

“He’s a young man who simply hasn’t forgotten where he came from.”