Hutcheon looks to defend title

Banchory-based PGA Professional Greig Hutcheon will defend his status as PGA No.1 when he returns to Turkey for the Titleist PGA Play-Offs.

The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre pro is one of three Scots heading to Antalya Golf Club in Turkey for the £15,000 showpiece over the PGA Sultan Course on November 29 – December 1.

Hutcheon, who took victory after a play-off against Rothley Park’s Matt Cort last year over the same course, qualified to defend his title by topping The PGA in Scotland’s Tartan Tour.

He will be joined for the Baltic battle by fellow Paul Lawrie Golf Centre man Greg McBain and Clydeway Golf’s Graham Fox, who finished second and third in the region respectively.

The trio will each have an eye on a finish in the top ten.

That would secure them a place in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth while the top three eligible pros will qualify to represent Great Britain & Ireland in the PGA Cup team to face America in California next September.

Hutcheon has played in the BMW PGA Championship every year since 2011 and was a key figure in GB&I’s 2013 PGA Cup campaign, when they overcame a five point deficit to tie the biennial matchplay competition.

The 41-year-old will go into the play-offs confident of a repeat appearance in both events after a grandstand finish in Scotland where he won the final two Order of Merit events.

Titleist brand director, Matthew Johnson, commented: “Titleist strives to support golf in all aspects of the game and our partnership with The PGA and the PGA Play-Offs offers a fantastic platform to strengthen our ties with all PGA Professionals.

"We take great pride in validating the #1 ball in golf, used by the best players in the world from touring professionals through to PGA Professionals and elite amateurs, which in turn influences golfers of all abilities to put their trust in the #1 ball in golf to help them shoot their best scores.

“The PGA Play-Offs is a unique event in bringing the leading PGA pros together to compete for an opportunity to tee up at some of the European Tour’s biggest events including the flagship BMW PGA Championship and we look forward to seeing an exciting conclusion to the season."