Sandy Lyle confirmed for Ryder Cup
Wales Seniors Open in June
Double Major winner Sandy Lyle has confirmed he will compete in this year’s Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open in North Wales.
The tournament, which is the third event in the Ryder Cup Wales Summer of Golf programme, will take place from June 13-15 and will return to Conwy (Caernarvonshire) Golf Club for the second consecutive year.
Now eligible to play on the European Seniors Tour after turning 50 on February 9, Lyle became the first Briton to win the Open Championship since Tony Jacklin in 1969 when he won at Royal St George’s in 1985. Three years later, he became the first Briton to win the Masters Tournament when he triumphed at Augusta National in.
The Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open is one of the most prestigious tournaments on The European Seniors Tour, and the second most lucrative after the Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard. In recent years, the event has attracted some of golf’s greatest champions from yesteryear, and this year promises to be no different with a world-class field expected to attend.
Among the star names joining Lyle to compete for the £75,000 first prize fund will be former Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance, and past Ryder Cup players José Rivero and Costantino Rocca, plus defending champion Carl Mason of England, who will be looking to make it a hat-trick of victories having also claimed the title in 2005.
Lyle said: “It will be an honour for me to play in this year’s Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open. It means a great deal to me to play in front of my home fans here in the British Isles, and the chance to compete against some of my old adversaries will make the experience even more enjoyable.
“Many people already know of my desire to be Ryder Cup Captain. It would be a defining moment in my career, and one I would cherish until the end. I hope this may be the start of an exciting relationship with the Ryder Cup Wales team, and I look forward to supporting this event for many years.”
As one of Ian Woosnam’s Assistant Captains at The Ryder Cup in 2006, Lyle played his part in Europe’s record-equalling 18½ -9½ winning margin at The K Club, marking a successful return to the Ryder Cup fold for the first time since 1987.
John Jermine, Chairman of Ryder Cup Wales, said: “Twice a winner of a Major Championship, Sandy Lyle has been one of the world’s great golfers as well as a charming and popular competitor wherever he has played, and we are delighted and thrilled to welcome him to Wales. The spectators at Conwy will have a wonderful opportunity to watch a true champion.”
A great ambassador for golf in Europe, Lyle – who learned to play the game at Hawkstone Park Golf Club in Wem, Shropshire – is one of the players credited with breaking America’s stranglehold on the world stage.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “It is fantastic to be able to confirm the participation of a player of Sandy Lyle’s stature and reputation at the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open in this, his debut season on the European Seniors Tour.
“As a member of the “Big Five” who dominated the European game in the 1980s and ‘90s, his inclusion in this year’s field can serve only to enhance the strength and quality of what is already one of the most prestigious tournaments on the European Seniors Tour Schedule.
“The name of Sandy Lyle is instantly recognisable around the world, and I’m sure the Welsh public and golfing fans from across the British Isles will turn out in their droves to welcome him home.”
www.europeantour.com
Wales Seniors Open in June
Double Major winner Sandy Lyle has confirmed he will compete in this year’s Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open in North Wales.
The tournament, which is the third event in the Ryder Cup Wales Summer of Golf programme, will take place from June 13-15 and will return to Conwy (Caernarvonshire) Golf Club for the second consecutive year.
Now eligible to play on the European Seniors Tour after turning 50 on February 9, Lyle became the first Briton to win the Open Championship since Tony Jacklin in 1969 when he won at Royal St George’s in 1985. Three years later, he became the first Briton to win the Masters Tournament when he triumphed at Augusta National in.
The Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open is one of the most prestigious tournaments on The European Seniors Tour, and the second most lucrative after the Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard. In recent years, the event has attracted some of golf’s greatest champions from yesteryear, and this year promises to be no different with a world-class field expected to attend.
Among the star names joining Lyle to compete for the £75,000 first prize fund will be former Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance, and past Ryder Cup players José Rivero and Costantino Rocca, plus defending champion Carl Mason of England, who will be looking to make it a hat-trick of victories having also claimed the title in 2005.
Lyle said: “It will be an honour for me to play in this year’s Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open. It means a great deal to me to play in front of my home fans here in the British Isles, and the chance to compete against some of my old adversaries will make the experience even more enjoyable.
“Many people already know of my desire to be Ryder Cup Captain. It would be a defining moment in my career, and one I would cherish until the end. I hope this may be the start of an exciting relationship with the Ryder Cup Wales team, and I look forward to supporting this event for many years.”
As one of Ian Woosnam’s Assistant Captains at The Ryder Cup in 2006, Lyle played his part in Europe’s record-equalling 18½ -9½ winning margin at The K Club, marking a successful return to the Ryder Cup fold for the first time since 1987.
John Jermine, Chairman of Ryder Cup Wales, said: “Twice a winner of a Major Championship, Sandy Lyle has been one of the world’s great golfers as well as a charming and popular competitor wherever he has played, and we are delighted and thrilled to welcome him to Wales. The spectators at Conwy will have a wonderful opportunity to watch a true champion.”
A great ambassador for golf in Europe, Lyle – who learned to play the game at Hawkstone Park Golf Club in Wem, Shropshire – is one of the players credited with breaking America’s stranglehold on the world stage.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “It is fantastic to be able to confirm the participation of a player of Sandy Lyle’s stature and reputation at the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open in this, his debut season on the European Seniors Tour.
“As a member of the “Big Five” who dominated the European game in the 1980s and ‘90s, his inclusion in this year’s field can serve only to enhance the strength and quality of what is already one of the most prestigious tournaments on the European Seniors Tour Schedule.
“The name of Sandy Lyle is instantly recognisable around the world, and I’m sure the Welsh public and golfing fans from across the British Isles will turn out in their droves to welcome him home.”
www.europeantour.com
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, March 18, 2008
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