Sam Torrance seals third Order of Merit win with
third place in last event of Seniors' season
By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Sam Torrance came out on top in the battle of the former Ryder Cup captains with Ian Woosnam for the European Senior Tour Order of Merit to claim his third John Jacobs Trophy in a thrilling climax to the 2009 season.
Torrance’s third place in the OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship at Club de Campo Mediterraneo meant he finished just €3,380 ahead of 2008 Senior Tour No 1 Woosnam in the closest Order of Merit contest since 2000.
The Sunningdale-based Scot from Ayrshire originally ended the year on €170,696 following his victory in the DGM Barbados Open and four other top five finishes, including fifth in The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard at his home course Sunningdale.
It was Torrance’s third Order of Merit victory following 2005 and 2006, meaning he equals Carl Mason’s total and is now just two behind Tommy Horton’s benchmark of five.
“It means the world to me,” said the 55 year old Scot. “I’m delighted - over the moon. I’m the best Senior player in Europe this year. That feels fantastic.
“This week was so important and I managed to do it. It means more to me than anything else.
“It’s been a great battle between me and Woosie. I said last year I wanted to get his title off him and I’ve done it. I only won one event but I dug in over the year.
“This Order of Merit is actually sweeter than the other two. The older you get the harder it is. With each year that goes by you get older and it’s not like the main Tour where you are 18 or 21 and gaining experience. So it’s a fantastic achievement.”
Torrance had entered the season ending OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship knowing he had to finish in at least the top four and hope that Woosnam was down the field.
That seemed certain after Woosnam opened with consecutive level par rounds to lie in a share of 30th but his grip on the John Jacobs Trophy looked to be loosening when Woosnam remarkably produced back-to-back eagles on his eighth and ninth holes to surge up the leaderboard. However two bogeys on the way in proved costly for the Welshman he closed with a round of 71 for a share of 18th place.
That meant Torrance succeeded him as Senior Tour No q, although with the wind playing havoc and every shot of vital importance, the battle went right to the wire with the 2002 European Ryder Cup Captain edging over the line.
“I holed a great putt on the 17th because I knew I had to finish second or third. I looked at the leaderboard and saw Woosie had two eagles. I didn’t really know what else he had done when I was playing. If he had finished top ten I wouldn’t have won it but he didn’t and I did!
“I’m absolutely over the moon. There was so much pressure coming down the last few holes. Even on the 18th I had such a difficult shot over the bunker then I didn’t putt it stone dead and in that wind it was difficult.”
After two years of battling a hand injury following his Order of Merit win in 2006, it was at the 2008 OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship that Torrance’s resurgence began when captured his 10th Senior Tour title.
He quickly declared that he was out to get Woosnam’s Order of Merit crown and proved as good as his word, starting the year with a tied sixth place in Brunei before capturing his 11th title in the DGM Barbados Open when he produced some of the best golf of his career, including a stunning course record 63.
“Having two former Ryder Cup captains going head to head is fantastic for the Senior Tour,” said Torrance. “We’ve been locking horns for 40 years Woosie and I so it’s great to still be doing it.
“I couldn’t be happier to beat him though! It’s been a great year. Playing so well at Sunningdale in The Senior Open Championship was fantastic as it’s my home course. That was like winning a tournament for me.”
Former World No 1 Woosnam, who last year became the first former Harry Vardon Trophy winner on The European Tour to win the Senior Tour Order of Merit, ended the season on €167,316.
The Welshman had led the Order of Merit for most of the season after winning the Irish Seniors Open in association with Fáilte Ireland and AIB Bank and finishing third and fourth respectively in the lucrative Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and Casa Serena Open.
He congratulated Torrance on his John Jacobs Trophy victory but, just as Torrance did 12 months ago, he warned his rival he will be out to reclaim the silverware next season setting up another mouthwatering contest between the pair.
“It’s been a great battle with Sam,” said the former Masters Tournament winner. “It’s been good for the Senior Tour. We need to have more of those battles – it’s what it is all about. Good for Sam for winning this one. He deserved it. He’s played well this year. He played well at this tournament last year and has kept it going.
“Next year I’m going to have him though!
“It’s been another good season for me. I’ve been consistent but I haven’t putted as well as last year. I putted so well last season and that’s why I won more money. It’s nice to be up there again though. The main thing for me was to finish in the top four so I get into all the Majors. When I did that at Prague that was what I was looking for.
“Winning in Ireland was great. I’d like to do it again. I’ve had some great times in Ireland. I want to get my game back to where I’m winning more. I’ve struggled with my game this year. I really felt I was going to play well this week but it’s one of those courses that doesn’t suit me.”
Englishman Carl Mason’s back-to-back birdie finish to take fourth place in Spain meant he ended the year in third place on the Order of Merit with €157,918, leaving him just €42, 707 short of breaking the €2million barrier in Senior Tour career earnings.
His compatriot Glenn Ralph, winner of the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open, finished fourth with Angel Franco, runner-up behind Australian Mike Harwood in Castellόn, completing the top five.
Aussie Mike Harwood carded a superb final round of 66 in windy conditions to finish three strokes clear of overnight leader Angel Franco and add the season-ending over-50s championship to the Volvo Masters he won on the European Tour in 1990 – becoming the first player to win both titles.
His victory meant he also moved from 28th to ninth on the Order of Merit, past Roger Chapman to win the European Senior Tour Rookie of the Year award.
It capped a magnificent fortnight for the 50 year old who won the Australian Senior Open two weeks ago and rounded off a seamless return to competitive golf in 2009 after more than a decade out of the game.
“It was an amazing day, emotional too,” said Harwood. “When the wind was as bad as it was this morning I just didn’t want to make an idiot of myself.
“It’s been a great week. I had a few lucky breaks and I’ve made a lot of putts this week. I came in thinking this could be my week but I played well and putted so well.
“I hoped I would win this year but thought it might be unrealistic after so long out of the game. There must be something about Spain and the wind because my Volvo Masters win came in exactly the same conditions.”
Harwood had started the day two strokes behind Franco at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo but five birdies on his front nine saw him move into a share of the lead.
Another birdie on the 11th took him one clear as Franco bogeyed the same hole on the start of a run which saw the South American drop three shots in three consecutive holes.
Harwood had also bogeyed the 12th but a run of pars until the 17th, which both players birdied, meant he finished on 13 under par 203, with Franco dropping a shot on the last to finish on ten under par, and Torrance a further stroke back.
“My short game today was unbelievable on the front nine,” said Harwood. “I played pretty well on the back nine – I didn’t hit the ball that great but my short game was electric.
“I holed some fantastic four or five footers on the back nine. Confidence played a big part after winning in Australia. I played well the first day and struggled with my swing yesterday. I played smart today in the wind and kept it in play and with the way I putted that’s all I needed to do.”
Franco’s level par closing round of 72 meant he finished runner up for the sixth time in his Senior Tour career and for the third time this season. There was some consolation for him as he moved into fifth place in the final Order of Merit.
FINAL TOTALS
Sam Torrance came out on top in the battle of the former Ryder Cup captains with Ian Woosnam for the European Senior Tour Order of Merit to claim his third John Jacobs Trophy in a thrilling climax to the 2009 season.
Torrance’s third place in the OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship at Club de Campo Mediterraneo meant he finished just €3,380 ahead of 2008 Senior Tour No 1 Woosnam in the closest Order of Merit contest since 2000.
The Sunningdale-based Scot from Ayrshire originally ended the year on €170,696 following his victory in the DGM Barbados Open and four other top five finishes, including fifth in The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard at his home course Sunningdale.
It was Torrance’s third Order of Merit victory following 2005 and 2006, meaning he equals Carl Mason’s total and is now just two behind Tommy Horton’s benchmark of five.
“It means the world to me,” said the 55 year old Scot. “I’m delighted - over the moon. I’m the best Senior player in Europe this year. That feels fantastic.
“This week was so important and I managed to do it. It means more to me than anything else.
“It’s been a great battle between me and Woosie. I said last year I wanted to get his title off him and I’ve done it. I only won one event but I dug in over the year.
“This Order of Merit is actually sweeter than the other two. The older you get the harder it is. With each year that goes by you get older and it’s not like the main Tour where you are 18 or 21 and gaining experience. So it’s a fantastic achievement.”
Torrance had entered the season ending OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship knowing he had to finish in at least the top four and hope that Woosnam was down the field.
That seemed certain after Woosnam opened with consecutive level par rounds to lie in a share of 30th but his grip on the John Jacobs Trophy looked to be loosening when Woosnam remarkably produced back-to-back eagles on his eighth and ninth holes to surge up the leaderboard. However two bogeys on the way in proved costly for the Welshman he closed with a round of 71 for a share of 18th place.
That meant Torrance succeeded him as Senior Tour No q, although with the wind playing havoc and every shot of vital importance, the battle went right to the wire with the 2002 European Ryder Cup Captain edging over the line.
“I holed a great putt on the 17th because I knew I had to finish second or third. I looked at the leaderboard and saw Woosie had two eagles. I didn’t really know what else he had done when I was playing. If he had finished top ten I wouldn’t have won it but he didn’t and I did!
“I’m absolutely over the moon. There was so much pressure coming down the last few holes. Even on the 18th I had such a difficult shot over the bunker then I didn’t putt it stone dead and in that wind it was difficult.”
After two years of battling a hand injury following his Order of Merit win in 2006, it was at the 2008 OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship that Torrance’s resurgence began when captured his 10th Senior Tour title.
He quickly declared that he was out to get Woosnam’s Order of Merit crown and proved as good as his word, starting the year with a tied sixth place in Brunei before capturing his 11th title in the DGM Barbados Open when he produced some of the best golf of his career, including a stunning course record 63.
“Having two former Ryder Cup captains going head to head is fantastic for the Senior Tour,” said Torrance. “We’ve been locking horns for 40 years Woosie and I so it’s great to still be doing it.
“I couldn’t be happier to beat him though! It’s been a great year. Playing so well at Sunningdale in The Senior Open Championship was fantastic as it’s my home course. That was like winning a tournament for me.”
Former World No 1 Woosnam, who last year became the first former Harry Vardon Trophy winner on The European Tour to win the Senior Tour Order of Merit, ended the season on €167,316.
The Welshman had led the Order of Merit for most of the season after winning the Irish Seniors Open in association with Fáilte Ireland and AIB Bank and finishing third and fourth respectively in the lucrative Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and Casa Serena Open.
He congratulated Torrance on his John Jacobs Trophy victory but, just as Torrance did 12 months ago, he warned his rival he will be out to reclaim the silverware next season setting up another mouthwatering contest between the pair.
“It’s been a great battle with Sam,” said the former Masters Tournament winner. “It’s been good for the Senior Tour. We need to have more of those battles – it’s what it is all about. Good for Sam for winning this one. He deserved it. He’s played well this year. He played well at this tournament last year and has kept it going.
“Next year I’m going to have him though!
“It’s been another good season for me. I’ve been consistent but I haven’t putted as well as last year. I putted so well last season and that’s why I won more money. It’s nice to be up there again though. The main thing for me was to finish in the top four so I get into all the Majors. When I did that at Prague that was what I was looking for.
“Winning in Ireland was great. I’d like to do it again. I’ve had some great times in Ireland. I want to get my game back to where I’m winning more. I’ve struggled with my game this year. I really felt I was going to play well this week but it’s one of those courses that doesn’t suit me.”
Englishman Carl Mason’s back-to-back birdie finish to take fourth place in Spain meant he ended the year in third place on the Order of Merit with €157,918, leaving him just €42, 707 short of breaking the €2million barrier in Senior Tour career earnings.
His compatriot Glenn Ralph, winner of the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open, finished fourth with Angel Franco, runner-up behind Australian Mike Harwood in Castellόn, completing the top five.
Aussie Mike Harwood carded a superb final round of 66 in windy conditions to finish three strokes clear of overnight leader Angel Franco and add the season-ending over-50s championship to the Volvo Masters he won on the European Tour in 1990 – becoming the first player to win both titles.
His victory meant he also moved from 28th to ninth on the Order of Merit, past Roger Chapman to win the European Senior Tour Rookie of the Year award.
It capped a magnificent fortnight for the 50 year old who won the Australian Senior Open two weeks ago and rounded off a seamless return to competitive golf in 2009 after more than a decade out of the game.
“It was an amazing day, emotional too,” said Harwood. “When the wind was as bad as it was this morning I just didn’t want to make an idiot of myself.
“It’s been a great week. I had a few lucky breaks and I’ve made a lot of putts this week. I came in thinking this could be my week but I played well and putted so well.
“I hoped I would win this year but thought it might be unrealistic after so long out of the game. There must be something about Spain and the wind because my Volvo Masters win came in exactly the same conditions.”
Harwood had started the day two strokes behind Franco at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo but five birdies on his front nine saw him move into a share of the lead.
Another birdie on the 11th took him one clear as Franco bogeyed the same hole on the start of a run which saw the South American drop three shots in three consecutive holes.
Harwood had also bogeyed the 12th but a run of pars until the 17th, which both players birdied, meant he finished on 13 under par 203, with Franco dropping a shot on the last to finish on ten under par, and Torrance a further stroke back.
“My short game today was unbelievable on the front nine,” said Harwood. “I played pretty well on the back nine – I didn’t hit the ball that great but my short game was electric.
“I holed some fantastic four or five footers on the back nine. Confidence played a big part after winning in Australia. I played well the first day and struggled with my swing yesterday. I played smart today in the wind and kept it in play and with the way I putted that’s all I needed to do.”
Franco’s level par closing round of 72 meant he finished runner up for the sixth time in his Senior Tour career and for the third time this season. There was some consolation for him as he moved into fifth place in the final Order of Merit.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 M Harwood (Aus) 65 72 66
206 A Franco (Par) 64 70 72
207 S Torrance (Sco) 67 71 69
208 C Mason (Eng) 68 71 69
209 J Bruner (USA) 67 72 70
210 D Hospital (Esp) 71 69 70, B Cameron (Eng) 71 70 69, J Rivero (Esp) 69 71 70
211 D Smyth (Irl) 66 77 68, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 68 68 75, N Job (Eng) 70 71 70
212 C Williams (RSA) 72 70 70, J Quiros (Esp) 71 68 73, G Ralph (Eng) 70 70 72, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 68 73
213 M Clayton (Aus) 70 70 73
214 J Chillas (Sco) 69 72 73,
215 M Piñero (Esp) 70 72 73, T Johnstone (Zim) 71 74 70, P Mitchell (Eng) 69 75 71, M Cunning (USA) 72 65 78, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 72 71,
216 D Merriman (Aus) 73 69 74, R Chapman (Eng) 71 71 74, E Rodriguez (Esp) 72 71 73,
217 C Rocca (Ita) 69 73 75, K Tomori (Jpn) 72 70 75, G Brand junior (Sco) 68 74 75, J Bland (RSA) 69 78 70,
218 D Cambridge (Jam) 76 70 72, R Drummond (Sco) 66 74 78, G Cali (Ita) 74 69 75, G Brand (Eng) 69 70 79, J Heggarty (NIr) 69 75 74,
219 E Darcy (Irl) 72 72 75, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 75 75,
220 A Murray (Eng) 72 73 75, K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 69 78,
222 V Garcia (Esp) 76 71 75,
223 B Lincoln (RSA) 76 74 73,
225 B Smit (RSA) 75 75 75,
239 G Hopkins (USA) 80 77 82,
206 A Franco (Par) 64 70 72
207 S Torrance (Sco) 67 71 69
208 C Mason (Eng) 68 71 69
209 J Bruner (USA) 67 72 70
210 D Hospital (Esp) 71 69 70, B Cameron (Eng) 71 70 69, J Rivero (Esp) 69 71 70
211 D Smyth (Irl) 66 77 68, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 68 68 75, N Job (Eng) 70 71 70
212 C Williams (RSA) 72 70 70, J Quiros (Esp) 71 68 73, G Ralph (Eng) 70 70 72, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 68 73
213 M Clayton (Aus) 70 70 73
214 J Chillas (Sco) 69 72 73,
215 M Piñero (Esp) 70 72 73, T Johnstone (Zim) 71 74 70, P Mitchell (Eng) 69 75 71, M Cunning (USA) 72 65 78, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 72 71,
216 D Merriman (Aus) 73 69 74, R Chapman (Eng) 71 71 74, E Rodriguez (Esp) 72 71 73,
217 C Rocca (Ita) 69 73 75, K Tomori (Jpn) 72 70 75, G Brand junior (Sco) 68 74 75, J Bland (RSA) 69 78 70,
218 D Cambridge (Jam) 76 70 72, R Drummond (Sco) 66 74 78, G Cali (Ita) 74 69 75, G Brand (Eng) 69 70 79, J Heggarty (NIr) 69 75 74,
219 E Darcy (Irl) 72 72 75, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 75 75,
220 A Murray (Eng) 72 73 75, K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 69 78,
222 V Garcia (Esp) 76 71 75,
223 B Lincoln (RSA) 76 74 73,
225 B Smit (RSA) 75 75 75,
239 G Hopkins (USA) 80 77 82,
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, November 08, 2009
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