Paterson steps out of shadows to defend title

Fifer Greg Paterson is making a rare appearance on the Scottish scene this season to defend his title in the Craigmillar Park Open, the first event on this year’s SGU Order of Merit.

Since claiming the Capital crown – he joined the likes of Nick Faldo, Andrew Oldcorn and Marc Warren on the roll of honour – with a record-breaking aggregate 12 months ago, the 25-year-old experienced a reality check at the European Tour qualifying school and decided to withdraw from the Scotland squad. It meant he missed out on a training trip to South Africa for the second year running and, last weekend, the St Andrews New player was a notable absentee in the Scottish Champion of Champions at Leven. “At the end of the season I felt burned out and my enthusiasm for the game had dipped,” said Paterson, who closed with rounds of 64 and 62 in the Edinburgh event a year ago for a 23-under-par total of 257.

“Missing out in the qualifying school was a blow but, to be brutally honest, it made me realise I wasn’t ready to step up. I’m still going to compete, but I’ve got a job now and I’m just going to try a fresh approach to my golf.” Lundin’s James White, who shot a course-record 60 in the third round 12 months ago but was then overtaken by his fellow Fifer on the final circuit, launches his defence of the Order of Merit title in this weekend’s event. The 78-strong field also includes South African Amateur champion Brian Soutar and newly-crowned Scottish Champion of Champion Fraser McKenna.