America’s Marco Dawson was the suprise winner of the 2015 Senior Open at Sunningdale – beating Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie to claim the Claret Jug – the R&A has postponed July’s 2020 Senior Open but has not ruled out holding it later in the year

THE 2020 Senior Open at Sunningdale has been postponed due to the continuing threat posed by the spread of the coronavirus.

Europe’s only Senior Major Championship was scheduled to take place on the stunning Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club, from July 23-25.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, an executive director at The R&A, said: “We have made the decision to postpone the Senior Open presented by Rolex following discussions with all stakeholders – and with public health and wellbeing the absolute priority.

“We will continue to investigate alternative options to host The Senior Open later in the year – if at all possible – and will make an announcement in due course.”

Sunningdale last hosted the championship in 2015 when American Marco Dawson claimed the trophy for the first time, ending Bernhard Langer’s hopes of a third Senior Claret Jug.

And it also denied Colin Montgomerie a first Senior Claret Jug, as Dawson produced two eagles in his final round as he reeled in Monty’s four-shot lead with nine holes to play.

Langer went on to win the title in 2017 at Royal Porthcawl, and Langer would have been the defending champion in August, after his two-shot victory over Paul Broadhurst at Royal Lytham, last summer.

The 62-year-old German has a record of 11 Senior Majors to his name as the 1985 Masters winner – the second European to win a Green Jacket at Augusta after Seve’s historic win in 1980 – continues to defy his age.

Langer spoke last month about how much he was looking forward to returning to the club on the Surrey-Berkshire border.

He said: “I am really looking forward to returning to Sunningdale Golf Club.

“I remember the battle I had with Marco and Colin a few years ago, so it will be good to go back and create new memories.

“To win The Senior Open means a great deal as it is one of the highlights of the year and it was a great feeling to lift The Senior Open trophy last season.

“There are new, younger stars taking part every year, making the event one of the toughest to win, and I expect much of the same this time.

“Sunningdale is a special course with a lot of history and I have been in the mix on the two occasions the championship has been held there – so it would mean a lot to perform well once again.”

Sunningdale also hosted the event in 2009 when Lauren Roberts – the Boss of the Moss – beat Fred Funk and Marc McNulty in a play-off on the famous heathland course.

The Old Course was designed by Willie Park Jnr and opened in 1901, with Harry Colt’s New Course opening in 1923.

Mark Aspland, head of the Staysure Tour, said: “The decision to postpone The Senior Open has been made in the best interests of everyone involved.

“Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of all players, spectators and sponsors, and it is therefore the right decision to postpone the event.

‘We will continue to work closely with The R&A, Rolex and other key stakeholders to reschedule the event at a later date when we have further clarity on the global situation.

“Our thoughts are with everyone right now as we continue the global fight against the spread of coronavirus.”

The decision came on Tuesday as the Cabinet – in the absence of Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is recovering at Chequers after spending three days in intensive care last week suffering from COVID-19 – was preparing to extend the current lockdown in the UK as it entered a fourth week.

Bernhard Langer was looking forward to a return to Sunningdale. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Five Senior Majors in 2020 are off

ALL five Senior Majors of the season have either been called off or rearranged because of the coronavirus pandemic.

And the first three dates on the European Seniors Tour calendar have also been postponed.

The Murhof Legends – Austrian Senior Open due to be held at Golfclub Murhof, Frohnleiten, from May 14-16,was cancelled last month along with the Italian Senior Open at Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, in Porto Ecole, from May 23-31.

The French Senior Open – presented by Jean Van De Velde – which was set to be played at Golf d’Arras in Anzin-Saint-Aubin, is another casualty.

The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship – due to be held at Harbor Shores Resort in Michigan’s Benton Harbor, from May 21-24, was the second Seniors Major of 2020 to be called off.

The PGA of America announced it was being cancelled on April 2 – a lockdown order in Michigan was in place until April 13, leaving the organisers not enough time to complete preparations.

PGA of America chief executive Seth Waugh said: “While we are incredibly disappointed, we all understand that protecting public health is the highest priority.

“We are especially disappointed for the Benton Harbor community, our friends at KitchenAid and the fans and volunteers who support this important championship so passionately.”

The Senior PGA will return to Harbor Shores in 2022, the PGA said when it announced the cancellation.

Next year’s Senior PGA Championship will take place at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from May 27-30.

US Senior Open at Newport CC moves to 2021

THE 41st US Senior Open – scheduled for Rhode Island’s Newport Country Club from June 25-28 – was cancelled last week.

The announcement came at the same time as the USGA’s decision to move the US Open back to September was taken, as well as calling off the third US Senior Women’s Open.

The men’s US Senior will now be played at Nebraska’s Omaha Country Club from July 8-11, in 2021.

“Canceling this year’s Senior Open championships was a very difficult decision to make,” said USGA chief exectuive Mike Davis.

“Not only are they important pillars of our championship schedule, but we also value our relationships with both Newport Country Club and Brooklawn Country Club, and were looking forward to staging incredible events there this summer.

“Given the ongoing health and safety issues related to COVID-19 and the significant consolidation of schedules into the back half of 2020, including the postponement of the US Women’s Open and US Open, we felt it necessary to make these unfortunate adjustments to our 2020 championship plans,” Davis added.

The only US Senior Open win for Bernhard Langer came at Sahalee Country Club, in Washington State, in 2010, when he finished three strokes ahead of Fred Couples.

The PGA Champions Tour had already cancelled or postponed four tournaments set to take place in the run up to the Senior PGA.

They included the Regions Tradition – the year’s first Seniors Major, which should have been played at Greystone G&CC in Birmingham, Alabama, from May 7-10.

It has been rescheduled for September 24-27.

The next PGA Tour Champions event on the schedule is the American Family Insurance Championship at Madison, Wisconsin, from June 5-7.

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The 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s has been cancelled – the Claret Jug will return to Sandwich in July 2021. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

THE R&A has cancelled The 149th Open at Royal St George’s in 2020 because of the current COVID-19 crisis – the championship will now be played at Sandwich in 2021, instead.

The Open was due to be staged in Kent from July 12-19, but following guidance – from the UK Government, the health authorities, public services and The R&A’s advisers – the decision was taken to pull the plug on staging the world’s oldest Major in 2020.

The move followed more than a week of intense speculation while the game’s governing body weighed up its options during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first time since the Second World War that golf’s original championship, first played in 1860, has been cancelled – following on from Augusta National’s decision last month to cancel this week’s Masters for the first time since WWII.

The decision piles on the pressure on the other two Majors in the 2020 calendar, which are all under threat – including June’s US Open at Winged Foot, and the USPGA, which has been suggested could move to early August, in the slot vacated by the cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics.

Talks have been going on for past week and on Friday The R&A said it was still reviewing its options.

A shift to a date in September prior to the Ryder Cup – considered the most likely option given the current Government lockdown to beat the COVID-19 crisis could last until the early summer – was finally discounted.

The R&A stressed its plan now is to hold the 149^th Open at Royal St George’s from July 15-18, 2021 leaving the stage set for the 150^th Open to go ahead at St Andrews, from July 14-17, in 2022 – when the awarding of the Claret Jug and the Gold Medal celebrates a special milestone in golf’s history.

R&A: First priority is protect health

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “Our absolute priority is to protect the health and safety of the fans, players, officials, volunteers and staff involved in The Open.

“We care deeply about this historic championship and have made this decision with a heavy heart.

“We appreciate this will be disappointing for a great many people around the world, but this pandemic is severely affecting the UK and we have to act responsibly. It is the right thing to do.

“I can assure everyone that we have explored every option for playing The Open this year but it is not going to be possible.

“There are many different considerations that go into organising a major sporting event of this scale.

“We rely on the support of the emergency services, local authorities and a range of other organisations to stage the championship and it would be unreasonable to place any additional demands on them when they have far more urgent priorities to deal with.

“In recent weeks we have been working closely with those organisations as well as Royal St George’s, St Andrews Links Trust and the other golf bodies to resolve the remaining external factors – and have done so as soon as we possibly could.

“We are grateful to all of them for their assistance and co-operation throughout this process.

“Most of all I would like to thank our fans around the world and all of our partners for their support and understanding.

“At a difficult time like this, we have to recognise that sport must stand aside to let people focus on keeping themselves and their families healthy and safe.

“We are committed to supporting our wider community in the weeks and months ahead and will do everything in our power to help golf come through this crisis.”

Ireland’s James Sugrue, who won the 2019 Amateur Championship at Portmarnock – the R&A is waiting to decide if the 2020 championship can take place at Royal Birkdale, after the June date was postponed in March. Picture by THE R&A / GETTY IMAGES

Senior Open at Sunningdale ‘under review’

THE R&A’s remaining professional and amateur championships are also under review because of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

They include the Senior Open at Sunningdale, in August, and The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire, which has been put back from its traditional June date, as well as the Women’s Amateur Championship and the Senior Amateur.

The R&A also organises the AIG Women’s British Open, which is set to be played at Royal Troon, in August, and which must also be in doubt now.

The British Boys Championship, held in August, is the R&A’s top junior event along with the Boys Home Internationals and The Girls Amateur, which has already been postponed from its July date.

Great Britain & Ireland are also due to face Continental Europe in the St Andrews Trophy, which the R&A organises alongside the European Golf Associtaion, while the juniors are due to contest the annual Jacques Leglisle Trophy, also in August.

Updates will be given on any further changes, an R&A spokesman added.

R&A will transfer tickets to 2021

THE R&A will transfer over tickets and hospitality packages purchased for the 2020 championship at Royal St George’s to The Open in 2021.

Purchasers who no longer wish to – or are no longer able to – attend in 2021 – whether as a result of the COVID-19 crisis or not – will receive a full refund.

Further information on the arrangements will be sent directly to ticket and hospitality purchasers in due course, said the R&A spokesman.

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Oliver Farr is focused on trying to earn his Euroepan Tour card after missing a number of tournaments because of family issues this season. Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

DESPITE making nearly half as many appearances as his peers on the European Challenge Tour, Oliver Farr is relishing the opportunity to play this week at the KPMG Trophy, which starts today (Thursday).

The Welshman, who only has seven starts counting towards his goal of returning to the European Tour, has not been able to play as much as he hoped after a combination of joyful and difficult times away from the golf course.

“We’ve had a few issues at home,” said Farr, who sits 34th in the rankings going into this week’s tournament in Belgium.

“One was a really good issue in that we had our second child at the start of the year, so I missed a lot there.

“But we’ve also had a few losses more recently so I’ve been trying to support my wife as best I can through a tough time.

“It’s obviously limited my schedule, but I didn’t want to play in the circumstances.

“It’s a terrible time for my wife’s family and more recently my family. We lost my grandmother a couple weeks ago as well, so it’s been a really tough time in both sets of families.

“It’s not nice but it probably puts my golf into perspective. It’s not as important as it was a few years ago, especially with two children now.

“It’s important in the sense that I need it to earn money and pay the mortgage and stuff like that, but they’re more important to me than golf.”

Although it has been a rollercoaster off the course, the 31-year-old’s play on the golf course has been anything but.

He posted top five finishes at the Swiss Challenge and Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil, and comes into the KPMG Trophy on the back of consecutive top 15 showings in his two most recent starts – having not missed a cut all season.

Farr plans to play several more events this season but will still have to miss some more. He will, however, have the benefit of experience on his side, after graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2014 and again in 2017.

“I’ve actually played really nicely this year,” Farr said. “I’ve not played a whole lot, but when I’ve played, I’ve played nicely and I don’t feel like I’ve had my best weeks yet so far this year, which is sort of a good feeling to have in a sense.

“I feel comfortable out here having qualified for the European Tour a couple of times before, so the belief is there. I’ve got seven events left this season to do that, and hopefully my best golf is still to come.”

Another invaluable asset which Farr has on his side, is the guidance of his father Graham, who himself has made starts on the European Tour, and just last month teed it up in The Senior Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

“I call him my coach but he’s more of a mentor,” the two-time Challenge Tour winner said.

“He likes me to figure out things for myself. If something’s going wrong, he’ll ask me what I think first, rather than telling me.

“It’s more just trying to get me to understand my game a little bit better, and I’m understanding my swing and my feelings a bit better than I used to.”

Regardless of how Farr’s week transpires, and in spite of the difficult time his family has been through, he is committed to maintaining perspective and a good attitude.

“Having two boys is good fun, they’re actually coming to Portugal in two weeks so that should be a great week,” added the Welsh pro, who is attached to Hereford’s Burghill Valley Golf Club.

“There’s a lot of good, positive stuff in my life as well as some negative stuff this year, but the positive is what we’ll draw on at the minute.”

Farr begins his pursuit of the KPMG Trophy when he tees off at Millennium Golf’s 10th hole at 1.15pm local time, with the action beginning at 7.25am local time.

For live scoring click here

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BERNHARD Langer continued his historic dominance of over-50s golf by winning The Senior Open for a record fourth time.

The German set a new benchmark for Senior Major Championship victories – with 10 – when he last won The Senior Open in 2017 at Royal Porthcawl,

And with his win at Royal Lytham & St Annes he became the oldest Senior Open champion as he collected his 11th Senior Major – and his 41st professional title since turning 50.

A delighted Langer, who also led Europe to victory in the 2004 Ryder Cup, said: “It’s always special to walk down 18 in a Major, but especially over here.

“The people are so knowledgeable about golf, and it’s tremendous how they even came out in these conditions and cheered us on in the rain.

“It feels very special, whether it’s The Open or The Senior Open, to walk down 18 is always a wonderful feeling.

“Now having won 11 Senior Majors, it means a great deal. Nobody has won more than nine if I’m correct – not even the great Jack Nicklaus or Gary Player or Tom Watson, who retired from this championship today.

“There’s a lot of great players who have played this game and have played Majors, and I’ve been blessed to have won more than any of them.”

Despite heavy rainfall, which suspended play for over five-and-a-half-hours on the final day – and then returned for the final nine holes of the championship – Langer remained unphased.

He put on a masterclass as he took control of the tournament with back-to-back birdies on the inward nine, ultimately carding a four-under par 66 to turn a three-shot deficit into a two-shot victory from 2016 champion Paul Broadhurst, who is attached to Northamptonshire County.

The final round of The Senior Open will also be remembered as Tom Watson’s farewell to competitive links golf.

The five-time Champion Golfer of the Year and three-time Senior Open winner announced after his third round that he would be bowing out at the conclusion of his 18^th Senior Open appearance.

The American never missed a cut in The Senior Open and remains one of only three men—along with Gary Player and Bob Charles—to win both The Open and The Senior Open.

Watson bows out being considered by many to be the greatest links golfer of all time.

Watson, whose five Open wins all came in Scotland, said: “The crowds on 18 were very warm and appreciative. The crowd that ended at the ninth hole, which was the farthest point on the golf course, that went all the way out there to watch my final hole, that was very, very special.

“There will be other people who will take the reins and they will do what I did. Life is full of passages, and I’ve passed through my career here, starting in 1975 to here in 2019. It’s amazing.

“I’ll always respect the way the game is played over here. The game of golf is played here with a passion, unequalled, and it’s part of the fabric of life that people have when they play golf here in the UK

“That’s what I’ve always appreciated,” added an emotional Watson who famously beat Nicklaus in the Duel in the Sun at Turnberry, in 1977, and almost won a sixth Claret Jug in 2009, aged 59 – but lost to Stewart Cink in a play-off, also over Ayrshire’s Ailsa course.

Europe’s only Senior Major will head to Sunningdale Golf Club, on the Berkshire-Surrey border, when The Senior Open returns in 2020.

For full results in the 2019 Senior Open click here

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TOM Watson, five-time winner of The Open and three-time Senior Open Champion, has announced that the final round of The Senior Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes will be the last competitive round in the UK.

The 69-year-old, who has competed in The Open an astonishing 38 times and has made the cut in all 18 of his appearances at The Senior Open, will bid farewell to his beloved fans in the United Kingdom at Royal Lytham & St Annes during Sunday’s final round of Europe’s only Senior Major.

In a press conference after his third round, Watson confirmed it will be his last appearance at The Senior Open and that he has also played his final US Senior Open – but will continue to play professional golf in a limited capacity.

“I’ve thought quite long and hard about the decision I’ve made,” Watson said. “It has to do with really a pretty sensible assessment of how I play the game now.

“I don’t have the tools in the toolbox. I’ve mentioned that before, that sometimes you lose the tools in the toolbox. I just don’t have enough tools in the toolbox to really compete successfully.

“So, therefore, I’m basically declaring now that this is my last Open Championship, Senior Open Championship. And I’m also going to hang up the spikes in the US Senior Open.

“I’ve had a good career playing professional golf all these years. I’ve run across so many fine people who have helped me and supported me.

“First of all, my wife who is battling cancer now. It’s going to give me some time to go out and compete with her.”

The Kansas City, Missouri native first competed in The Open in 1975 and claimed his first Major Championship victory in thrilling fashion as he became only the third golfer in the modern era to win The Open on his first attempt when he defeated Jack Newton in an 18-hole play-off at Carnoustie.

Watson would go on to be named the Champion Golfer of the Year again in 1977 at Turnberry, 1980 at Muirfield, 1982 at Royal Troon and 1983 at Royal Birkdale.

Upon turning 50 years old, the American continued his dominance as he lifted the Senior Open Trophy first in 2003 at Turnberry – becoming only the third player in history to win The Open and The Senior Open – again in 2005 at Royal Aberdeen and a third time in 2007 at Muirfield.

As well as the unparalleled list of links triumphs, Watson will also be forever remembered for the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry when, as a 59-year-old he was unbeaten over 72 holes, eventually losing to Stewart Cink – 23 years his junior – in a four-hole play-off.

“It’s not to say that I don’t love the competition,” added Watson. “I love the competition. But I’m going to focus my competition on something a little bit different, on the back of a horse now.

“And over the years we’ve been around each other. I’ve seen a lot of people from the press over the years over here. Really enjoyed the times I’ve spent.

“It’s not to say I won’t be over here again. I’ll be back at The Open next year as an ambassador for the R&A.

“But my competitive days in The Open Championship are finally over. And as I said, I’m good with it. It’s a decision that I am very happy with.”

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said, “Tom is one of golf’s greatest ever champions and his extraordinary career has seen him win The Open five times and the Senior Open three times, a record that stands him apart from every other golfer.

“He has made a huge contribution to the growth and success of the Senior Open and I know he was thrilled when we made the decision to bring the championship to the Old Course in St Andrews for the very first time last year.

“Tom has brought great joy to the tens of thousands of fans who have watched him play in the Senior Open over the years and they will fondly remember him for his brilliant golf, sportsmanship and warm personality.”

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Geoff Nicholas the 1990 British Amputee Open Champion who came through a play-off at Fairhaven to qualify for The Senior Open at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s this week.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AMPUTEE golfer Geoff Nicholas will make his Senior Open debut at Royal Lytham & St Annes today after earning his place in Monday Qualifying.

The Australian – who participated in the European Tour’s ground-breaking EDGA Scottish Open for Golfers with Disability earlier this month – was one of more than 500 golfers who competed at four qualifying sites for the 49 remaining places in The Senior Open field, securing his spot after a play-off at Fairhaven Golf Club.

Nicholas was born with deformities in both his legs – a side-effect of the drug named Thalidomide which was used to combat the effects of morning sickness in expectant mothers. At the age of 11 his right leg was amputated, but that did not stop him from playing golf – which he took up after seeing it on television.

He carded a level par round of 73 at Fairhaven and then earned his place at Royal Lytham & St Annes after a five-man play-off with a birdie on the fourth extra hole.

“In regulation I think I sunk a 25-footer for birdie which got me into the play-off,” Nicholas said. “There were two spots and two alternate places. We all birdied the first and parred the second, one guy dropped out on the third.

“On the 18^th, one guy knocked it on for two and I hit an eight iron to about 15 feet with my third shot – I bent in the putt and we both went through.

“To qualify for The Senior Open, a Senior Major Championship, is terrific. It’s been one of my dreams; and to get through Qualifying was brilliant. It’s just great to be here.

“I like to feel as though I’m inspiring people – and there’s a lot of people out there. Golf is such a great game in which to do that.

“There’s so many avenues to succeed in this sport – there’s no other sport like it.”

Currently ranked No. 8 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), the 58-year-old admitted he had enjoyed the EDGA Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club to the east of Edinburgh, which took place alongside the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, a Rolex Series event on the European Tour.

Nicholas said: “I came over to the UK 10 days ago to play in the EDGA Scottish Open, which was great, and I thought, ‘well, I’m over here, I might as well try and qualify for The Senior Open’ and here I am.”

In 1990 he won the inaugural British Amputee Open and won the U.S. Amputee Open later that year.

Nicholas would dominate the amputee golf scene in the 1990s – winning both championships every year until 2002.

He earned his card on the PGA Tour of Australasia in 1992, which he held for a number of years, and also teed it up in the same event as Tiger Woods in the 1996 Australian Open.

“That was really special,” said Nicholas. “I actually beat him in the first round – so I’ve always got that to remember. This week is something else, it’s great to be around so many legends of the game.

“A lot of people don’t know what to expect from me – a lot of them don’t realise because when you wear long trousers and walk reasonably well, they don’t know.

After The Senior Open, Nicholas will be hoping to maintain his position in the top eight of the WR4GD and earn a spot at the EDGA Dubai Finale at the end of the season, the second disability championship scheduled alongside Rolex Series events on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The EDGA Dubai Finale will take place alongside the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November.

For live scores from The Senior Open click here.

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