In-form Hutcheon aims to justify captain’s pick

Tartan Tour No 1 Greig Hutcheon is set to bring his golfing talents to bear for the sake of his country this month against the old foes from across the pond.

The Banchory-based professional, who has been in scintillating form this season, will be part of the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team seeking to wrestle back the trophy from the Americans during the Ryder Cup-equivalent at Northumberland’s De Vere Slaley Hall between September 20-22.

Hutcheon is part of a 10-man team, all of whom will making their debut, and has the distinction of being selected as the captain’s pick by Scot Russell Weir, who will lead the team for a second time.

The 40-year-old, one of four Tartan Tour regulars in the side along with Scott Henderson, Gareth Wright and Graham Fox, is relishing the opportunity he has been given.

“It meant the world to me to be picked for the team,” said Hutcheon, a veteran of nigh on a century of European Tour tournaments and a three-time winner on the Challenge Tour.

“I played on Tour for many years and I knew that I was never going to play a Ryder Cup and this is by far the next best thing.

“Once the selection process opened up giving me a chance to be in the team, I really wanted to play in it.”

The Scot has had a stellar season as he leads both the money list and the PGA in Scotland Order of Merit. He won the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship in July and was the leading PGA Professional at this year’s BMW PGA Championship – the European Tour’s flagship event.

But the PGA Cup will be an entirely new environment for Hutcheon, who is aware that he and his fellow rookies, despite their lack of PGA Cup experience, will have a weight of expectation as they look to deny the Americans chalking up a fourth successive victory.

“There will be added pressure as we’re representing the PGA and our country,” said the father of two.

“When you’re out there you’re playing not just for yourself but also for the nine other guys on your team. We will be fine as it’s just about developing that good team spirit.

“I’ve also spoken to Fraser Mann, who has played in two PGA Cups, including being in the winning team in 2005, and he has given me a bit of advice and few tips on the kind of things to expect.

“There was nothing new that I won’t have experienced on Tour, it’s just a case of dealing with it and getting on with your game.”