Greig Hutcheon makes it 'Magnificent Seven' in Deer Park Masters

Greig Hutcheon poses with the Deer Park Masters trophy after his latest victory at the Livingston course. Picture: PGA in Scotland

Tartan Tour veteran Greig Hutcheon is gunning for more glory at Deer Park after producing another Masters class at the Livingston venue.

The 47-year-old carded a course-record 63 playing it without a practice round on his first to the Muir Group-owned venue around 2003 and has been shooting the lights out there ever since.

His latest visit earned a seventh Deer Park Masters win on Wednesday in the Tartan Tour's first event of the season following the Covid-19 shutdown of professional golf in Scotland.

Played over one round on this occasion, Hutcheon shot a five-under-par 67, a bogey-free effort that was illuminated by an eagle-3 at the 12th, where he hit a 3-iron from 199 yards to 10 feet.

That score was matched by both Paul O'Hara and James McKinnon but victory went to Hutcheon on a countback, adding to his title triumphs in 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

"It was superb just to be back playing golf," said the winner. "It proved the pro-am format can work with social distancing even though there wasn't the interaction in the clubhouse afterwards.

"When I arrived on Tuesday night, the ninth and 18th greens were completely flooded, but they have done a lot of drainage work in recent years and, on Wednesday morning, all that was left were a few puddles in bunkers.

"My form around Deer Park is almost inexplicable, to be honest. The first time I played it in 2003, having just come off the tour after an injury, I played it blind and shot 63, which was a course record, and had a putt for a 62.

"I've played it well time and time again and it's almost become automatic for me. I am aware of the dangers and wish I could play every tournament there."

The affabale Aberdonian will be back at Deer Park before the end of the season as it is also staging the Loch Lomond Whiskies Scottish PGA Championship early next month.

"I'm setting myself up for a fall, I suppose, but I will probably be the odds-on favourite for that," he admitted.

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