Lots of reasons why Scottish Challenge is worth a trip to beautiful Borders
Field for HotelPlanner Tour event is mix of rising stars and big names trying to climb back up ladder
If you’re a true golf fan and happen to be at a loose end over the next few days, then here’s a suggestion for you. Why don’t you head for the beautiful Borders and take in some of the action in the Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A at SCHLOSS Roxburghe near Kelso?
With a prize fund of £250,000, the HotelPlanner Tour event isn’t on the same scale as events like The Open, Genesis Scottish Open, ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open or the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, three of which have been staged on Scottish soil in recent weeks.
It’s a terrific event, nonetheless, having been resurrected in 2022 by Paul Lawrie through his Five Star Sports Agency after falling off the schedule for a spell following a memorable run under the SSE Scottish Hydro banner at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore.
Brooks Koepka, now a five-time major champion, won the 2013 edition in the Highlands before Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston followed in his footsteps the following year. David Law landed the title in the last staging in the shadows of the Cairngorms and it was an absolute joy to be there that day.
As was witnessing Brandon Robinson Thompson, one of the game’s real characters, being crowned as champion by eight shots at Newmachar in 2024 then watching Daniel Young emulate Law - Jamie McLeary and George Murray as well after their back-to-back triumphs in 2009 and 2010 - by becoming a home winner at SCHLOSS Roxburghe 12 months ago.
Even more so than ever, the beauty of an event like the Scottish Challenge - entry is free, incidentally - is that you not only get the chance to watch the game’s up-and-coming stars but also those who are trying to climb back up the ladder after losing their DP World Tour status.
Chris Wood, for example, is in this week’s field. The giant Englishman was winning for a third time on the DP World Tour when he landed the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2016, securing automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine later that year in the process.
He then had a lengthy spell in the doldrums before being rejuvenated by some success on the MENA Golf Tour last winter and, lo and behold, he’s in the mix for 15 DP World Tour cards up for grab through this season’s HotelPlanner Tour after winning the Italian Challenge Open in May.
Others facing a Dave Thomas-designed challenge on the banks of the River Teviot include two-time DP World Tour winner and The Chipping Forecast podcaster Eddie Pepperell, former DP World Tour Rookie of the Year Tom Lewis and Alfie Plant, who won the Silver Medal as leading amateur in The Open in 2017.
Talking of The Open, there are five players in this week’s line up - Matthew Baldwin, who hit the opening blow, MJ Daffue, Matthew Southgate, Jack McDonald and Tiger Christensen - who teed up in the 154th edition at Royal Birkdale last month. Southgate and McDonald both made the cut.
McDonald is part of a 17-strong Scottish contingent that also includes four-time DP World Tour champion and World Cup winner Marc Warren, as well as 2018 Silver Medal winner Sam Locke, the ever-improving Calum Fyfe and Rory Franssen, who became the HotelPlanner Tour’s newest victor in Estonia last weekend.
Add in the likes of Hamish Brown, a Dane with the most Scottish name in golf, Yannik Paul, Wilco Nienaber and John Catlin to name but a few and I promise you won’t be disappointed if you decide to be Borders-bound.
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