Can Scots make it a hat-trick?
SCOTS golfers Callum Macaulay and Craig Lee are hoping to make it a hat-trick of home champions in the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course, which tees off tomorrow (Thursday).
For the past two years, the event has produced a home win – Jamie McLeary in 2009 and George Murray 12 months ago.
Macaulay and Lee are part of Team Scottish Hydro, which gives financial support to five young Scottish professionals in the hope of producing more European Tour and Ryder Cup players.
It is the third year the competition has been staged at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore with Edoardo Molinari finishing runner-up two years ago and fellow Italian, wonderkid Matteo Manassero having a sparkling few opening rounds last year before fading slightly.
Both, of course, were in action in the 111th US Open at Congressional Country Club in Maryland over the past week and organisers have said it is a great opportunity for local golf fans to see some stars of the future.
With an increased prize fund of €220,000, it is also one of the most lucrative events on the Challenge Tour schedule, hence the lure for even a couple of ex-Ryder Cup players.
"I’m really looking forward to it," said Macaulay. "The course is great and was in really good shape last year. I just hope the weather is better than it has been recently because I’m fed up with getting soaked and blown all over the place.
"It’s an important week because it’s like my home event. I’ll finally get to spend some time with my family, which is much needed as this is my seventh week in a row playing.
"I’m looking forward to getting back, seeing my wife and having some home cooked meals with my parents.
There’s probably less pressure playing in Scotland rather than more, despite being closely linked with the tournament sponsors. We can go out and just enjoy our golf, and we are fortunate to have the backing of Scottish Hydro. I’m just going to try and enjoy it and, hopefully, I won’t be too tired as it will be my eighth tournament in a row.
Lee is also looking forward to some home comforts, which will be well deserved after his joint runner-up finish in the recent Saint-Omer Open.
"I’m delighted with the way I played in Saint Omer and it will be a big confidence boost for the Scottish Hydro Challenge."
McLeary, Gavin Dear and Chris Doak are the other members of Team Scottish Hydro aiming for victory, and they are part of a strong field which also includes Challenge Tour rankings leader Chris Gane and another Scottish hopeful in Alastair Forsyth.
"It’s always good to be playing at home," said Forsyth, who lost his European Tour card last season after 11 consecutive years. "Ideally, I wouldn’t be playing Challenge Tour but I am and I’ve got to make the best of it.
"I’ve been away a lot recently between the two tours, so it’ll be nice to spend some time with my little girl and the family.
"I don’t know Aviemore very well – it’s about three hours from where I live – and I haven’t played the course before. I’ve heard good things about it though, so I’m looking forward to it.
"My form has been good lately. I’ve been knocking on the door – I had an outside chance in Saint Omer and had the same in Mallorca and Madeira. If I can just improve my putting I’ll be in with a shout."
Spey Valley club pro Murray Urquhart said that the players to look out for this week are former European Tour winners Marc Warren and Forsyth, and former Ryder Cup players Peter Baker and Paul Broadhurst.
Admission is free for the public for the four days of competition, which concludes on Sunday.
