The Senior Open Championship will return to the spectacular setting
of Turnberry on the Ayrshire coastline from July 26-29, 2012, continuing
the Scottish resort’s rich history with the prestigious Championship
which began with the inaugural staging in 1987.
It will be the seventh occasion that Turnberry’s Ailsa Course has
hosted The Senior Open Championship, the most of any venue on the
roster, surpassing the six editions played at Royal Portrush in Northern
Ireland.
The classic links hosted the first four Senior Open Championships,
with Neil Coles wining the inaugural Championship in 1987, Gary Player
capturing the title in 1988 and 1990 and Bob Charles lifting the trophy
in 1989.
Tom Watson, whose own career is so closely aligned with Turnberry’s
proud heritage, then held off the European Senior Tour’s leading career
money winner Carl Mason in a play-off when the Championship returned to
the Ayrshire Coast in 2003, before fellow American Loren Roberts
captured his first Senior Open title in 2006.
Turnberry has also hosted The Open Championship on four occasions
with Watson featuring prominently in 1977, when he memorably defeated
Jack Nicklaus in what became known as ‘The Duel in the Sun’, and in 2009
when he lost in a play-off to Stewart Cink at the age of 59.
David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A, said on behalf
of the Championship: “We are delighted to announce the return of The
Senior Open Championship to Turnberry in 2012, a venue that is steeped
in the history of both The Senior Open and The Open.
“The Ailsa Course has provided some of golf’s most memorable moments
over the years and hopefully we will once again experience the
magnificent support of the Scottish golf fans, just as we did the last
time The Senior Open Championship visited the Ayrshire coast in 2008
when we had record crowds at Royal Troon.”
Stewart Selbie, General Manager of Turnberry, said: “Turnberry is
delighted to welcome The Senior Open Championship back to the Ailsa
course in 2012. Following the success of The 2009 Open, it is entirely
fitting that our next Major should be the Senior Open, a tournament
which has such a strong connection with the Ailsa course over the years.
This announcement confirms Turnberry’s position as a great venue for
major Open Championships”
Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said:
"Turnberry is an iconic golf location and I am thrilled The Senior Open
Championship is returning to South Ayrshire next year. We are, of
course, the birthplace and home of Open Golf and we are also well-known
for hosting major international events, so it’s going to be a fabulous
sporting occasion.
“I look forward to welcoming players, staff, fans, family and friends
to South Ayrshire for this wonderful event and will ensure a great time
is had by all here on Scotland’s very own golf coast.”
EventScotland,
the national events agency, has supported the staging of The Senior
Open Championship since 2005 and the 2012 event will be the marquee
event on Scotland’s golfing calendar that year.
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “The
Senior Open Championship is one of Scotland’s most prestigious regular
golf tournaments. We are delighted to see it return next year with
significant benefits for Turnberry, South Ayrshire and the wider ‘Home
of Golf’ expected. It is important for Scotland to maintain its support
of these major events as we prepare to host The Ryder Cup in 2014 and to
ensure the ongoing development of the sport on our shores.”
The Senior Open last visited Scotland in 2010 when Carnoustie hosted
the Championship for the first time. Germany’s Bernhard Langer claimed
his first Senior Major Championship and will defend the title from July
21-24 when Walton Heath Golf Club, in Surrey, England, is the host venue
for the Championship’s 25th edition.
Discounted advance tickets can be purchased online, with season
tickets now available at £60 for a season pass and any one day passes at
£16.50. They can be booked online at www.europeantourtickets.com, where other discounts and offers can also be found.
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