A fantastic performance from Graham Fox, culminating in a gutsy two under par 69 on the final day of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship booked the Rowallan Castle player a spot in the coveted Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles from August 23-26, 2012.
With calm weather making for good conditions on the King’s Course at Gleneagles, Fox finished on a 15 under par aggregate of 269 to take the top prize of £8,900, winning by two strokes from Greig Hutcheon, with popular Aberdonian Scott Henderson a stroke further back in third.
If that wasn’t good enough, as winner of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship, Fox secured the final place in the Johnnie Walker Championship. The 35-year old from West Kilbride last played in the event in 2002 and is looking forward to playing alongside many of his friends.
Fox said: “The opportunity to secure a place in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles was a huge incentive not just to play well, to win, the Tartan Tour’s flagship event. It is always great to be able to play the King’s Course and to enjoy all the history and tradition it represents, however The PGA Centenary Course is definitely one of the toughest.
“This year’s event has the added focus of Ryder Cup points for some players. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go back to Gleneagles, the challenges of playing in this event and renewing old friendships.”
Fox, who finished eighth in last year’s Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship will line up against some of the biggest names in golf when the Championship gets underway. As the last counting event for Ryder Cup points, players on the cusp of qualification will be battling it out over the recently modified PGA Centenary Course, which will play host to The 2014 Ryder Cup.
Bernard Murphy, General Manager of Gleneagles, said: ‘To have the opportunity to offer the winner of our Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship a place in the Johnnie Walker Championship is particularly special for us. Graham played well to win the title and secure his place in the event. He is very familiar with all the courses here having taken part in a variety of events since he was a teenager; I’m sure he’ll enjoy the challenges of The PGA Centenary Course and we wish him well.”
Fox, who recently became a father, experienced one full season on the European Tour back in 2002 and he has not given up hope of returning next season. The former Scotland amateur cap will have another attempt at the qualifying school later this year.
"I've been playing well for the last couple of months and it's great to get some vindication of all the hard work by winning this championship. I think I'm going back to tour school at the end of this year far better prepared for it than I was last year and the Johnnie Walker Championship will be the icing on the cake" said Fox.
The 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will again be broadcast on Sky Sports and will be played at Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course from August 23-26. Jose Maria Olazábal's 2012 European Ryder Cup team will be announced on the Monday (August 27th) following the Championship.
For the second successive year in a row the Championship organisers have set the Friday ticket price to just £5. Once again Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from on-the-day ticket sales to ClubGolf – Scotland’s junior golf development programme.
Tickets are available at the course and atwww.europeantourtickets.com. Parking is free. For full details on the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles visitwww.johnniewalkerchampionship.com; for further details on The Gleneagles Hotel, visitwww.gleneagles.com
