Sam may not be able to play it again

in Senior open over his course


FROM THE SCOTSMAN GOLF WEBSITE
By Alan Pattullo
While Tom Watson might have helped create the notion that golfers of a certain age can go on for ever, Sam Torrance has been given a painful reminder of the challenge of playing at a high standard when in one's fifties.
At the Senior Open at Sunningdale, Torrance paid tribute to Watson by telling him how his achievements at the previous week's Open in Turnberry had made him feel proud to be a golfer again. But the flip-side of the great sport's capacity to reward experience is its ability to cut down a veteran's hopes of defying the advancing years.
Torrance turns 56 on Monday, and had yearned to spend the day celebrating a second Scottish Senior Open title win. However, a painful lower back spasm has put his appearance at Fairmont St Andrews today in jeopardy.
Since the course hosting the tournament bears his name, this is an especially regrettable prospect. Torrance has already decided not to return to the area next month to feature in the Dunhill Links championship.
Even given Watson's heroics, he believes that demanding competition might be a step too far for him now. Much more alluring is a Cleveland golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open on a course where he can boast such special insight.
The Torrance course was originally opened in 2001, but has recently had eight of its holes re-designed, with the Scot's blessing. Bunkers have been revetted and a new aerated water system put in place.
But Torrance could be denied the chance to take advantage of his inside knowledge after being struck down by a frustrating back complaint. Having been re-located to golf's heartland of Fife after three years at Dalmahoy, the tournament would suffer a grave blow should Torrance have to pull-out.
However, the former Ryder Cup captain gave every indication he would do everything in his power to make his 10.40am appointment on the first tee this morning, in the company of Peter Senior and fellow Scot Bill Longmuir, a champion five years ago. Ian Woosnam, who tees off at 10.20am with John Bland and defending champion Peter Mitchell, is another big draw.
"The day before I came up the lower right-hand side of my back was a bit stiff," Torrance explained. "At my age, you have these things to contend with virtually every day. But it has got worse. I got up yesterday morning and it was not good at all. Hopefully by tomorrow it will be fine, but at the moment it is not looking good."
Torrance only managed six holes of the pro-am tournament yesterday, before walking off to seek more treatment. It is clear he is desperate to feature. "It's huge for me," he said of a tournament in which he triumphed in 2006. Another win here would take him top of the Order of Merit table, following a first win of the season – and 11th Senior title in total – at the DGM Barbados Open in March.
"In life you have to accept these things," Torrance said. "They come up and slap you in the face when you least expect it. I came up here in great form. I didn't hit a ball last week. Instead I just totally relaxed, and stayed at home. I wanted to get ready to come up here and win this, so it (the back spasm] is a pain in the backside.
"I love St Andrews, it's one of my favourite places in the world," he added.
Torrance's absence would be a blow at a time when golf's golden oldie brigade have been provided with such credibility.
While the hand-wringing continues about the shortage of characters in the current era, recent performances from the likes of Watson and Greg Norman, who led last year's Open at Birkdale with nine holes to go, have shown that the old stars of the game can still be competitive, and not just when pitted against their own age-group.
Torrance had just finished his stint as commentator for the BBC when Watson – and the millions cheering him on around the world – endured the agony of seeing the Open title slip from his grasp at Turnberry.
"I was listening to it in the car driving home," recalled Torrance. "I felt for him. I sent him a wee message. He's a great man. He made me proud to be a golfer. In fact, that's what I told him when I saw him the week after at the Senior Open. He is a very intelligent man, and very streetwise as well. It's a great combination. Of course he can handle it (the disappointment].
"I thought Watson's performance was just extraordinary," he continued. "It has to be up with the best sporting performances of all time in my book. If he had won it then obviously it would have been the greatest sporting performance of all time. But even though he didn't win it, I still think to be 59 years of age and be tied for the Open is right up there.
"It's a shot in the arm (for us] alright. It certainly shows us what we are capable of. I have looked after myself. My body is in good shape – well, until today, that is."