Graeme Robertson hails 'lucky' opportunity for home players in Scottish Challenge

In-form Graeme Robertson reckons a Tartan Army is “lucky” to have a career-changing opportunity in this week’s Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A.

A 17-strong Caledonian contingent consists of a mix of HotelPlanner Tour players, including Calum Fyfe, Marc Warren and new Estonian Challenge winner Rory Franssen, and Tartan Pro Tour golfers led by Sam Locke, the Scottish circuit’s most-successful player.

Graeme Robertson is among 17 home players teeing up in this week’s Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A in the Borders | Jasper Wax/Getty Images

Others flying the Tartan Pro Tour flag in the £250,000 event at SCHLOSS Roxburghe near Kelso include Michael Stewart, Craig Howie and John Paterson, all winners on Scottish soil as well this season on the circuit that has Paul Lawrie as its commissioner.

“That’s brilliant,” said Robertson, who is also in the national/invited players category, of hearing that as many as 17 Scottish players were in the field at the Borders venue.

“We’re lucky that Paul has this HotelPlanner Tour event and created a great opportunity for so many guys to change the second half of this year as there’s plenty of golf left to play or create opportunities for next year as well.”

Robertson secured a HotelPlanner Tour card for last season through finishing in the top two on the Tartan Pro Tour Order of Merit in 2024. His rookie campaign proved to be disappointing, making just two cuts in eight starts before seeing his season ended prematurely by a niggling wrist injury.

Back playing pain-free again, the Stirling University graduate is heading into this week’s home gig with a spring in his step after carding rounds of 63-64 to record a six-shot success in last week’s PGA in Scotland 36-Hole Order of Merit event at Strathmore in Perthshire.

That eye-catching win in a field that contained the likes of Craig Lee, Paul O’Hara and John Henry came on the back of three top-25 finishes in HotelPlanner Tour events in England, France and Germany.

“Yeah, I genuinely think I've hit a really, really good run,” said the 38-year-old. “A couple of years ago was probably the best I’ve played, winning an event in Bermuda and qualifying for The Open. 2024. I don’t want to jinx it, but I’m really, really happy the way I'm hitting it and, yeah, I think it is as good as I can play just now.”

Robertson will also be teeing up in next week’s Irish Challenge, having just got into the field at Killeen Castle. He then has one more start, which will probably be in Sweden, before he is re-ranked for a medical exemption from last season.

Other Scots in this week’s field include Jack McDonald, who made the cut in last month’s 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, as well as Will Porter, who has found his feet recently on the DP World Tour’s feeder circuit.