Woosnam seals his place in golfing history

By PAUL SYMES, European Tour Press Officer
In winning his maiden European Senior Tour Order of Merit, Ian Woosnam wrote another chapter of history in an already remarkable career by becoming the first former European Tour Order of Merit winner to be crowned the Senior Tour Number One.
The John Jacobs Trophy, given to the player who tops the Senior Tour money list, now sits proudly alongside the Welshman’s two Harry Vardon Trophy victories of 1987 and 1990, his 1991 Masters Tournament win, his 2006 Ryder Cup winning Captaincy and OBE.
It is an accomplishment which Woosnam ranks up there with all of the rest of his feats, having battled health problems including ME to return to competitive golf in style this year.
He said: “It’s another one for the record books. It’s always special to do something for the very first time. I don’t think I will be the only one to do it, as there will be guys who have won the European Tour Order of Merit who will join the Senior Tour and hopefully win the Order of Merit here as well.
“But it’s special to be the first – it’s nice to do it. This ranks alongside the rest of my achievements in my career. It will go on the mantelpiece with the rest of them.
“John Jacobs has always been a great supporter of golf, so it’s extra special to win the John Jacobs Trophy. Particularly in my younger days I had a few lessons off him, and thank heaven he didn’t mess about with my swing too much!”
Woosnam undoubtedly enjoyed a fine rookie Senior Tour season, winning both the Parkridge Polish Seniors Championship and the Russian Seniors Open, as well as finishing runner up on three occasions, including finishing second to Bernhard Langer at the Casa Serena Open in the Czech Republic to continue his affinity with the old Eastern Bloc countries.
Those performances helped the Welshman succeed Carl Mason as the Number One Senior Tour player with earnings of €320,119, finishing €62,376 ahead of Englishman Gordon J Brand in the Order of Merit.
Certainly his maiden Senior Tour title in Poland in May was something which Woosnam will always cherish, with his final round course record 63 at Krakow Valley Golf and Country Club ending an 11 year run without a strokeplay victory.
“To win the first title was a bit like getting a monkey off my back as although I won the World Matchplay in 2001, I’d not won a strokeplay title since the PGA Championship in 1997,” said the former World Number One.
“What a wonderful tournament it was in Poland that week. To win my first tournament, as a senior and it be sponsored by my own sponsor Parkridge, in Poland where they do so much business – you really couldn’t ask for more than that.
“Russia was really hard work, but I play well on certain style golf courses and that was one of them. Then Casa Serena was another modern golf course which suited my style of play. When I feel comfortable and my confidence is high it doesn’t matter where I’m playing, because I feel I can do well.
“Last year I hadn’t played for pretty much eight months, and then I went to America after the first Senior Tour event in Barbados and played there. It took me quite a while to get back into the swing of things again.

"As I got through the year and started swinging better, and felt more comfortable on the European golf courses, I started scoring better. Then once I got the first win I felt more confident, and after that I just felt I could win every tournament.
“I always thought I could do well this year – it just depended on my health. I would still say I’m nowhere near 100 per cent – I’m probably around 75 per cent. I still don’t feel well in the mornings and I get really tired. To be away for two weeks in a row is draining, so it’s great on the Senior Tour just being away for five days at a time. It really suits me as I get home every weekend. Being away in America really takes it out of me, but I feel comfortable on the Senior Tour.”
Having secured his maiden Order of Merit crown, Woosnam’s thoughts have already turned to next season when he will try to defend the John Jacobs Trophy.
“What I want to do now is win a Major,” he said. “It would be great to win The Senior Open Championship next year.”

Picture caption: Ian Woosnam with the John Jacobs and Harry Vardon Trophies (credit: Getty Images)

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