In-form Tom Higson claims another course record with 62 at Royal Dornoch

Tom Higson claimed another course record at one of Scotland's top courses as his hot run of form continued in the Highland Golf Links 54-Hole Pro-Am.
Gleneagles Hotel-attached Tom Higson, left, receives one of his prizes for winning the Tomatin Whisky-sponsored Highland Golf Links Pro AmGleneagles Hotel-attached Tom Higson, left, receives one of his prizes for winning the Tomatin Whisky-sponsored Highland Golf Links Pro Am
Gleneagles Hotel-attached Tom Higson, left, receives one of his prizes for winning the Tomatin Whisky-sponsored Highland Golf Links Pro Am

The Gleneagles Hotel-attached player carded an eight-under-par 62 at Royal Dornoch in his second round to claim a share of the record at the Sutherland venue.

Higson carded six birdies on the front nine to be out in 30 before adding three more coming home in a sparkling effort.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He'd already opened with a six-under-par 66 at Castle Stuart and then closed with a five-under-par 66 at Nairn for a new tournament record total of 19-under.

The brilliant week's work followed back-to-back 64s at the new Dumbarnie Links in Fife, as well as the same score on the Craighead Links in Fife in Alan Tait's Get Back to Golf Tour.

"I nearly wasn’t playing as the team I was originally playing with pulled out and one of my sponsors, Hunter Surfacing, put a team in," said Higson of claiming the £6,000 top prize in the Tomatin Whisky-sponsored Highland Golf Links event.

"The first day at Castle Stuart my driver and irons were horrible, but my wedges and putting were amazing so that got me through.

"I went to the range on Monday night and sent my coach, Andrew Jowett, a few videos and, hey presto, it worked.

"I have played Dornoch a lot over the last month or so and won there a few weeks ago shooting 64-68 and I knew I could go low.

"I just started to play and my team told me I wasn’t making enough birdies, so I had to prove them wrong.

"On the last tee, I knew I was seven-under after missing three short putts on 15,16 and 17 for birdie.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"On the last, I had 180 yards with a cross wind and I hit a 7-iron which was the worst shot of the day to about 50 feet.

"But, walking up to the green, I saw it was the same put I holed a few weeks ago. So I knew the line, it was just all about pace and, as soon as I hit the putt, I knew it was in.

"My team were actually more excited than I was their reaction was like I had won The Open. I had to tell one of them he still had to put as we needed it for the team score.

"It didn’t actually sink in until I was driving home to think of all the golf that has been played there over the years and no one has shot a better score that was pretty cool!

"I shot the course record at Dumbarnie earlier in the year, so two in a year is cool."

Higson, who won by a shot from Challenge Tour card holder Daniel Young after he also signed for a 62 at Dornoch, in his final round, is hoping to keep up his good form in next week's PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School final in Oxfordshire.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy YatesEditorial Director

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.