Sandy Scott gears up for dream PGA Tour career after happy homecoming
Nairn man expects to get a minimum of 26 events on US circuit, starting with a California double-header
Sandy Scott has returned home to Nairn many times from the US since he first went out there to start his college career at Texas Tech, then setting up base Stateside as a professional golfer.
His latest homecoming was a bit special, though, as the 28-year-old touched down on Scottish soil for the first time as a PGA Tour card holder after securing his seat at the top table for the 2027 campaign alongside Bob MacIntyre as a Korn Ferry Tour graduate.
“I’ve been home for two or three weeks now and it’s been nice,” Scott told The Scotsman. “It’s been nice to put my feet up; it’s been nice to catch up with family and friends and also my coach, Murray Urquhart. It’s been nice to think about the year and reflect on the year.”
He was speaking just before meeting up with his wife and fellow professional, Amy Taylor, in London before heading off for a few days to Madeira. “We are calling it our honeymoon,” said Scott of the pair having not managed to fit that into their schedules since getting married last December.
As revealed by The Scotsman earlier this week, Scott is heading to Australia soon to tee up in two DP World Tour events - the BMW Australian PGA Championship and Capital.com Australian Open - before starting an exciting new chapter in his career on the PGA Tour.
“It was cool to celebrate that with family and friends as I kind of transition to what is coming up and preparing for that and looking forward to the year ahead,” he said. “I’m now looking forward to being competitive again.”
On the back of a hot run of form that included back-to-back wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, Scott is now in the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking and talked recently about how he believes that can be a platform for him to challenge for a Ryder Cup spot in next year’s centenary edition at Adare Manor in Ireland. “Yeah, it’s been an amazing ascent,” admitted the former Walker Cup and Palmer Cup player. “It seems like I blinked and it all happened overnight.”
As a result, he’s now earning rewards like spots in those two big Australian tournaments. “Yeah, I think the opportunities that it brings are just tremendous and it feels a little surreal,” he added. “I am definitely taking advantage of where I am now in the world rankings and it is exciting.”
Scott’s first PGA Tour start will be in The American Express at La Quinta in California towards the end of January before heading to Torrey Pines near San Diego the following week for the Sentry. “For the most part, I know how my schedule is going to look,” said Scott. “I should get in most, if not all, of the regular season events.
“I think we are getting 26 events guaranteed, which is significant as you can make a full schedule out of that. And, with good golf, I can hopefully play my way into some of the Signature Events and, of course, the majors. That’s going to be one of my big goals for sure.”
As is a possible home gig in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. “Yeah, I’ve looked into this and I think the top 70 on the FedEx Cup points list at a certain cut-off point qualify for the Scottish Open and playing in that would be an absolute dream come true,” confessed the Highlander.
For the 2028 season, the PGA Tour is introducing a new two-tier set up, with the top players competing in a Championship Series and the remaining card holders playing on a Challenger Series below that.
“I think it’s probably as good a time as any,” said Scott of being a new card holder, having earned his step up through finishing second on the Korn Ferry Tour Order of Merit. “These changes are exciting ones and I think the opportunity to play in the Championship Series is amazing. I think the top 95 or so on the FedEx Cup points list in 2027 will qualify for that tour. It’s a fantastic opportunity, but my focus will be on trying to do as well as I can and be as successful as I can under the current format.”
Scott has earned his new status at a time when the likes of Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and lots of other big names are unlikely to be back on the PGA Tour for at least one full season following their decision to join LIV Golf and then seeing it collapse.
“I’ve never really thought about it,” admitted Scott in reply to being asked about the impact it is likely to have on the game and players like him. “My goal as a golfer was always to be on the PGA Tour and I’m just looking forward to trying to take the opportunities that the platform of the PGA Tour will provide me.”
Scott and Taylor met when they were both at Texas Tech. As Scott was carving out his professional career, having started out on what is now called the PGA Tour Americas before stepping up to the Korn Ferry Tour, Taylor has been chiselling away on the Ladies European Tour.
“We’ve become experts in figuring out how best to just be husband and wife while we are both playing competitively on different tours and different continents,” said Scott. “Every year we have done a better job putting us first and this year we’ve seen each other a considerable amount more than previous years. It’s felt a whole lot better in our relationship for my mental health and feeling fresh and re-charged and I think Amy would say the same.
“Yeah, getting promoted to the PGA Tour may mean a slightly different circumstance, but we have the belief that we will do whatever it takes to take care of our relationship and make sure we are in a good spot. Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing what that looks like for us.”
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