The ageing process doesn’t come itself. A twinge here, a hirple there, inexplicable grunts and groans out of nowhere?

Even those dunts and dents of yore, that were brushed off with youthful, nonchalant resilience at the time, eventually come home to roost.

“I kicked a tree in the Madeira Islands Open back in 1998 and it’s only giving me bother in my toe now,” said the 51-year-old Greig Hutcheon of a coming together between foot and trunk.

“I’d hit the tree with my ball and on my way past, I gave it a kick. It was sheer anger and frustration. But the tree won.”

Here in 2024, it’s the indefatigable Hutcheon who has been celebrating his own victory with a silver lining among the golden oldies.

His maiden victory on the Legends Tour in France was completed with a closing 64 during a thrilling finale that could’ve been accompanied by the rousing strains of the Ride of the Valkyries.

It was a triumph that underlined the Aberdonian’s competitive longevity and never-say-die spirit. It also came 25 years after his breakthrough on the second-tier Challenge Tour at the Formby Hall Challenge in 1999. He won’t forget that one.

“Alastair Forsyth and myself were involved in a play-off and we managed three or four holes until it was dark and couldn’t play anymore,” reflected Hutcheon of a sudden-death shoot-out that would become one of the longest on record in terms of time elapsed.

“At the time they decided that we’d share the title. But Challenge Tour regulations required an outright winner so the two of us had to go back to Formby two weeks later to finish it off. It was a unique situation.”

That 1999 campaign would turn out to be a pretty good one for Hutcheon and another product of Banchory Golf Club. A certain Paul Lawrie won The Open at Carnoustie.

“Without seeing Paul playing at Banchory, I probably would never have got to the tour,” said Hutcheon of those formative days in his golfing education.

“The phrase ‘seeing is believing’ really does mean something. I always remember when Banchory was a par 67 and I watched Paul go round in 57. Amazing.

“I was a lucky kid. You don’t get someone like Paul coming along very often. I was the dogsbody at Banchory, I got to hang out with him, practice with him and watch him grow into a major winner. It was hugely inspiring.”

Hutcheon never managed to establish a solid foothold on the main European circuit. There were some sore ones to deal with along the way. And we’re not meaning that ruddy tree truck.

“I remember at the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2001, Richard Bland shot 29 on the back nine and won it with a 63,” recalled Hutcheon. “He had to win, and I got knocked out of the promotion places to the main tour. That was a hard one to take. I thought I was home and dry. But you never count your chickens in this game.”

Despite a potentially career-ending shoulder injury in his early 30s, Hutcheon’s defiance and desire kept him plugging away and he remained a popular and enduring presence at various levels of the professional ranks.

“I just never gave up,” said the former Scottish PGA champion whose cheque for around £45,000 for his win in France was the biggest of his long career.

“And despite my injuries, I tried to keep playing. I still love the game too. Golf would drive you crazy if you let it. If you play golf long enough, you’ll understand why us Scots invented whisky.

“You have to accept that on some days, the game just beats you up. But you just try again the next day. There’s no secret to my longevity. Olive oil on my toast and honey in my coffee? I don’t know.”

As for the travel? “The week before my win in France we were in India, so I flew from Delhi to London,” he said.

“My Aberdeen connection was cancelled so I got the next one. I got to my house at 4pm, did a load of washing, repacked, my alarm went off at 1:45am and I had a 4:30am check-in for the Edinburgh to Paris flight. It was a mental journey…especially at 51.

“Maybe that’s why my toe is sore? I keep kicking the seat in front of me in economy class.”

The perks of being a champion, though, may allow him to put his feet up for a long haul to Mexico next month. “I’ve treated myself to a better seat for that one,” he said with a chuckle.