Here’s to Scots Highland fling at Aviemore

Andrew Johnston and Brooks Koepka have shown winning the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge can be the springboard to success at the highest level of professional golf.

The Aviemore event always draws a strong field and this year’s no exception, with players with lots of European Tour experience teeing up.

This year’s US Open champion Koepka won at Aviemore in 2013, his third Challenge Tour victory that season which earned immediate promotion to the European Tour.

Another player who hasn’t looked back since enjoying success at Spey Valley is Johnston, better known as Beef.

He claimed victory the following year and has quickly become one of the most popular players in the game.

Three of the last four

“Playing a part in getting the next crop ready to make the step up”

winners of the Scottish Hydro Challenge have been Englishmen and it would be nice to get a Scottish success this time.

With more than 20 Scots in the field, we have a good chance of a first home winner since George Murray’s success in 2010.

Peterhead-born Jamie McLeary also won there the year before, so hopefully one of the Scottish players can do it again.

I was at the course a couple of weeks ago and it is in fantastic condition.

It is a wonderful event and a very important competition for the young Scottish players with hopes of making it.

I want to see more young Scottish players on the European Tour which is why I have taken up a performance role with Scottish Golf.

I will be lending advice to our young players whenever possible and hopefully playing a part in getting the next crop of talented players ready to make the step up.

Other countries – such as England, Italy and Ireland – have been very good at producing young players and I want to help our next generation.

One great advantage the amateur players have these days is the fact ranking points earned on the Challenge Tour can count towards earning their card.

A good week at Aviemore could be enough to earn playing rights for the following season, but if it doesn’t work out then they can remain in the amateur ranks and continue to gain experience.

The Challenge Tour is the best place for young players to cut their teeth as professionals and learn the trade.

It gives them a great grounding, but the standard of players on the second tier tour is getting stronger.

Whoever wins at Aviemore will have earned it but it would be fantastic to see some of the Scottish players in the mix.

EXAMPLE: Andrew Johnston has gone on to better things since winning the Scottish Hydro Challenge