We are delighted to announce that we have signed up 28-year-old Scottish professional golfer Grant Forrest as an Orion ambassador for 2022-23. Mirroring the qualities we value as an organisation - talent, dedication, ambition, humility and - of-course - pride in his Scottish roots, we are privileged to support Grant as he takes the next steps in an exciting career.
Following in the footsteps of esteemed former Orion Group ambassadors and fellow golfers, Robert MacIntyre and Oliver Wilson, Grant joins us at an extremely exciting juncture in his development. Having first picked up a golf club aged five, a glittering amateur youth career followed, seeing him crowned 2010 Scottish Boys and 2012 Scottish Amateur Champion, Walker Cup (2015) winner and runner-up in the revered British Amateur Championship (2015). That same year he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of San Diego School of Business. While in San Diego, Grant enjoyed a hugely successful college golf career, seeing him named to the All-America Golf Team.
West Lothian-born Forrest turned professional in 2016, eventually graduating from the Challenge Tour to European Tour after finishing inside the top 15 on the 2018 Challenge Tour Rankings. 2021 was Grant’s most successful year in the professional ranks. After a steady start to the season including a top 20 finish at March’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Education City GC, Doha, July 2021 saw Grant record his first big result of the year finishing tied 4th at the Dubai Duty Free Open at Mount Juliet, Ireland.
A successful summer continued in August when Grant made his big breakthrough by winning his maiden European Tour title - the Hero Open - at Fairmont St Andrews. A stunning 66 in the final round - embellished by a Birdie-Birdie finish - saw Grant become the first Scottish golfer to win a tour event on home soil since Paul Lawrie in 2012. It was an emotional day for Grant, who lifted the trophy in front of 30 family members and close friends.
Posting a strong end to the season, in October 2021 Grant was in the hunt on the final day of the Acciona Open de España at Club de Campo Villa, Madrid before tying for third place. The tournament also saw Grant get his first hole-in-one as a professional. November saw the Haddington-based golfer tie for 16th at the big money DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai. The result saw Grant finish 36th in the prestigious Race for Dubai - the season-long competition to decide the European Tour’s number one player.
Starting this year ranked a personal high 155th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Grant goes into the newly christened DP World Tour season with high hopes:
“I’m delighted to become an Orion ambassador and am looking forward to the season ahead,” said Forrest. “As a globally successful Scottish company it is great to be associated with them and receive their support as I enter an exciting phase of my career. Hopefully winning my first European Tour title last season will act as a springboard this season on the DP World Tour, with more titles to come as I climb the rankings.”
Grant kicks off the 2022 DP World Tour on January 19 when he tees off at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links alongside defending champion, Tyrrell Hatton, and a star-studded field including Major Champions Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, and Danny Willett. We can’t wait to follow Grant’s progress…
