The PGA in Scotland announce stunning 2014 schedule

The Tartan Tour schedule for 2014 has been announced and, in a year when the eyes of the golfing world will be on Scotland during the build-up towards September’s Ryder Cup, it promises a veritable feast of golfing action.

With headline sponsors Palmer & Harvey, Paul Lawrie and Virgin Atlantic on board, officials have managed to add new events to the schedule and in the process raise the prize fund to exceed £700,000 - a marked increase on previous years.

Greig Hutcheon took the title in impressive fashion last year, and the new, expanded schedule will offer this year’s participants the hope of repeating his feat.

The new season will kick-start with the latest event to be added to the schedule, the £50,000 P&H Championship, at Dundonald Links on April 28-30.

Offering the first chance of silverware on the newly rebranded 2014 Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit Series, the event will give Scottish PGA Professionals the chance to sample a facility which was recently named UK Environmental Golf Course of the Year.

As well as an overall prize, the P&H Championship will also carry awards for the leading club pro, assistant and senior after two rounds, before the field is cut to the top 40 for the final day.

In May the tour will move on to Gleneagles. Centre of attention ahead of its Ryder Cup date, club pros will be able to sample the fairways of the Kings Course as they battle for victory in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship.

This will be closely followed by a June date at Murcar Links, where the £35,000 Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Northern Open will take place.

The Northern will be the first of two Paul Lawrie-supported events on the tour. The second, the Paul Lawrie Invitational, will be the year’s finale, and will take place on September 16-18.

As a former player and long-term supporter of the Tartan Tour, Lawrie was delighted to expand upon his long-term support by sponsoring an extra event in 2014.

He said: “We are very happy to be able to support this Championship which has such a rich history. I fondly remember playing The Northern so it’s nice to be a part of that history.”

Brian Mair, secretary for The PGA in Scotland, said: “2014 represents a very important year in the history of The PGA in Scotland. The eyes of the golfing world will be on us as we approach September.

“This is our opportunity to ensure we have a domestic schedule which is not only appropriate for the home of golf, but also enables us to get our message across that the PGA Professional is very much at the heart of golf.”

For the full 2014 PGA in Scotland schedule, please click here