Hamish Brown is looking to continue his impressive form this year when he tees it up in the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A at Newmachar Golf Club.
The Dane has a connection to Scotland through his father who was a golf professional born in Blairgowrie, and is relishing his return to the country to take on the Hawkshill course at Newmachar and the unique challenge that comes with playing golf in Scotland.
“I like being here in the birthplace of golf,” he said. “Every time I play in Scotland it’s just different from playing anywhere else, you just can’t beat it in my opinion. It’s even more special for me because I’ve always had this as a second home.
“Newmachar is a different golf course than what we’re used to. It’s a bit more linksy, with revetted bunkers, runny fairways and hard greens. I think it will be a good test, especially if the wind gets up.
“It’s tree-lined most of the way and there are a few tight holes, so there’s a premium on being good off the tee, and there are only two par fives this week so you can’t just make your score on those.”
The 25-year-old, who won his maiden title earlier this year at the Kaskáda Golf Challenge, is enjoying an excellent second season on the Challenge Tour and currently lies fifth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
Brown is in strong contention to achieve his pre-season goal of a top 20 finish and promotion to the DP World Tour, and recognises improvements off the tee and on the greens have been key to his upturn in form after finishing 83rd on the Rankings in 2023.
“Last year was hard,” he added. “We looked at what was bad last year and for me that was off the tee box and not making enough putts. I’ve put in a really good effort the last few months, and they’ve been two stronger sides to my game this year – that’s why I’m in the position I am.
“It’s the business end of the season now, and everybody is trying to hit the top 20. I’m in a good spot to do it, but you can’t control the outcome; you can only control the effort. If I control my effort the right way, I’m confident good things will come.
“Top 20 was the goal at the start of the year but I’m not done yet. I have a number [of points] in my head, and I’m not going to rest until I hit that.”
A strong field assembles in Aberdeen this week, including Englishman John Parry and Joel Moscatel of Spain, who are numbers two and three on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, as well as DP World Tour winners Lucas Bjerregaard from Denmark, England’s David Horsey, and Scot Marc Warren.
The first round of the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A gets under way at 7:30am local time, with Brown teeing it up alongside Parry and Scotland’s Bradley Neil at 8:00am.
