Koepka powers to Scottish Hydro title

Brooks Koepka has won automatic promotion to the European Tour after winning his third Challenge Tour event of the season in the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley.

The 23-year-old American, who only turned professional 11 months ago, defied extremely trying weather conditions and long rain delays to lift the title after a final round 68 at the Aviemore course. That gave him a three-shot winning margin over defending champion Sam Walker, Andrea Pavan, Steven Tiley and former US Amateur champion Byeong-hun An, who shared second place.

Koepka, who won the Montecchia Golf Open at the start of May followed by the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana less than a month later, can now look forward to joining close friend Peter Uihlein – another Challenge Tour graduate – on the main tour.

“It’s really exciting,” said Koepka, the first American to win three times in a single Challenge Tour season. “It was nice to get my third win here in Scotland and on my final trip before heading home to take some time off.

“This is only the beginning and I’ve done it in barely a year playing professionally. I know it sounds a little bit cocky but I have high expectations for myself.

“It was nice to get my third win here in Scotland and on my final trip before heading home to take some time off.”

“Hopefully I will win on the European Tour next. It sounds cool saying it. I have always wanted to get out there and play with those guys and now I get my room-mate back!

“Maybe my expectations are borderline too high but it is a good thing to always push yourself and never be satisfied. I think that is part of some frustration I have been feeling recently, that I am expecting a little bit too much of myself. A good break – going back home – will take care of all of that.”

Local favourite Duncan Stewart – from Grantown-on-Spey just 15 minutes away -sealed his best finish on the Challenge Tour to win the Douglas Lowe Memorial Trophy for the highest-placed Scot.

He finished in a four-way tie for sixth, with Team Scottish Hydro man Jack Doherty in a share of tenth.

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