Greig Hutcheon savours Turkish delight

Greig Hutcheon has rounded off a superb 2013 season by winning the Titleist PGA Play-Offs on a dramatic final day in Turkey.

The Scot earned the PGA No.1 player accolade in a dramatic finale at Antalya Golf Club in which he edged out Rothley Park’s Matt Cort in a sudden-death shoot-out at the third extra hole.

Both players had tied at nine-under for the 54-hole tournament, just ahead of overnight leader Matt Ford but, following pars on the first and second holes, Hutcheon delivered a perfect struck 5-iron to six feet to secure the £15,000 title, with his rival only able to make birdie in increasingly gusty conditions.

The Banchory pro’s spoils include a place in next year’s BMW PGA Championship and the Wales Open but he admitted he was close to missing out altogether after a dreadful run of 18 holes midway through the tournament.

“I’m really chuffed to win because, although I played well today, I feel the reason I won was the last 14 holes of the second round and the first four holes this morning where I played so badly and really struggled but still managed to cover those holes in just about level par,” said Hutcheon.

“It’s really a huge honour to be the PGA’s No.1, I’m delighted to win it again.” – Greig Hutcheon

“My game had vanished and I had to say to myself you’re out of this and a spot at Wentworth unless you pull your finger out, and then it was a momentum thing and I started to play a bit better.”

Greig Hutcheon’s final round 67 was a veritable rollercoaster with three bogeys, including two on the first two holes, five birdies and an eagle.

His fifth and decisive birdie came at the 18^th, which he birdied for the third time this week to book his place in the play-off. It also erased for good the double bogey demon on the same hole last year, which cost him an automatic PGA Cup place.

“It’s really a huge honour to be the PGA’s No.1, I’m delighted to win it again and it caps off a really good season for me bar winning my singles in the PGA Cup,” added Greig Hutcheon who also won the Tartan Tour and Scottish PGA Championship.

Greig Hutcheon: The PGA’s No.1

Here are the final standings from the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey, won by Greig Hutcheon:

-9  Greig Hutcheon* (Banchory) 67, 70, 67
-9  Matt Cort (Rothley Park) 66, 68, 70
-8  Matt Ford (CK Group) 66, 67, 72
-6  Ian Ellis (Costessey Park) 72, 67, 68
-5  Jason Levermore (Channels) 72, 67, 69

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor