Familiarity breeds contentment for Hutcheon in Scottish PGA Championship

02/09/2020

The Scottish PGA Championship has a new headline sponsor in the form of Loch Lomond Whiskies but there was a familiar name leading it at the end of round one. That it belongs to Greig Hutcheon should not come as a surprise, however.

Not only is Hutcheon attempting to win the Tartan Tour’s flagship event for the fourth time, he is doing so at Deer Park Golf and Country Club, a portion of Livingston real estate he would clearly like to relocate to his hometown of Banchory.

The 47-year-old has won here on seven occasions in a dozen visits or thereabouts and once again showed his liking for the venue by posting an opening six-under-par round of 66 to establish a one-shot lead.

That followed a four-under-par round of 68 in the pre-tournament pro-am but when asked to explain the secret of his success on the course Hutcheon is baffled.

“It’s inexplicable really,” he responded. “I can’t tell you why I score so well round here.

“Going way back when I first played in the Deer Park Masters I didn’t have time to have a practice round. So I played it blind and ended up with the course record – a round of 63 which still stands.

“Since then it’s snowballed and I reckon I’m 100 or so under-par for all the rounds I’ve played here. My play on this golf course is unbelievable and I can’t explain the reason.

“I think having played it so well so often I have a head full of positive memories. I guess I’ve birdied every hole out there.”

Seven of them succumbed to Hutcheon’s magic on day one, including the first two as the three-time champion served notice of what was to come.

Birdies followed at eight, 12, 13, 16 and 18 with the only wobble coming at the par-four sixth – a blip that has prompted a change of approach in the second and, all being well, third and fourth rounds.

“I had a bogey there and am going to change my tactics,” Hutcheon explained. “It’s a downhill dog-leg left to right and I often try and cut the corner to leave myself with a wedge in.

“But that’s a dangerous shot. It’s across out of bounds and trees – I did take it on today but was blocked out by trees. So I think I’ll try and play it more conservatively in future and take the longer shot into the green.”

Despite Hutcheon’s affinity for the course and his explosive start, there are some high-quality challengers lurking in his slipstream.

Almost a third of the field posted sub-par scores including Alastair Forsyth, the reigning PGA Professional champion and winner of this tournament in 2000.

Forsyth, a former European Tour winner, is a shot behind Hutcheon after a five-under-par round of 67 that featured seven birdies but was hampered by bogeys at three and 12.

Two other former champions are also handily placed: Chris Kelly, victorious in 2015 and 17, and Graham Fox, who consigned Hutcheon to the runner’s up berth at Gleneagles in 2012, are tied-sixth on three-under. Meanwhile, defending champion Paul O’Hara is a shot further back, four shots adrift of the leader.

“There’s a bunch of good players up here,” Hutcheon added. “I’m under no illusions this is over and done with. It will be a long haul until Friday night to see who’s the champion.”

Full scores are accessible here