Home course comfort for Sam

Torrance at Fairmont

By LEE TODD
European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Sam Torrance could not be any more at home as he heads into the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open at Fairmont St Andrews.
The Scot is about to embark on one of the most important weeks of the year on a personal level as he looks to win the €250,000 event on his own golf course, The Torrance at Fairmont St Andrews.
The former Ryder Cup Captain has, by his own high standards, endured a disappointing season so far. But, having spent the last three weeks practising under the tutelage of dad Bob, Torrance junior is confident that he can return to winning ways over a course he designed and get back into the race to defend the Senior Tour Order of Merit crown that he won last year for the third time.
“This is a very special week for me – we are literally playing on my golf course: I designed it, I am attached here and I really love this place so it is a very important week for me,” said Torrance who is currently 14th on the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
“It’s nice to hear most of the guys being very complimentary about a course that I have designed. It’s nice to hear things like that from the guys you play with every week. I hope they enjoy the test. The course is in great condition this week and it is getting better every year. The greens here are exceptional and are one of the strong points of my design.
“My form is getting better – I have been struggling for a while but it’s getting a bit better. I did a fair bit of work with my dad at the Senior Open which worked for a day but then I couldn’t sustain it. But I have been working hard every day and on the phone to him most days and it is coming along – it feels pretty good at the moment.
“I can still win the Order of Merit – there are a lot of big weeks coming up but I have to win a couple and contend in the rest if I am to have any chance.”
Torrance’s fellow former Ryder Cup captain, Ian Woosnam, will be among the Scot’s main challengers at Fairmont St Andrews this week and the Welshman was in buoyant form ahead of the tournament.
“It’s great to be back here in Scotland playing links golf again,” smiled Woosnam. “That was actually my last appearance three weeks ago at the Senior Open Championship and there were some good signs that the game is coming round. I’m looking forward to getting back out there and continuing the improvement.
“You obviously have to shape the ball playing links golf and I actually have a new set of clubs in the bag this week that I have a bit more feel with, so hopefully I can get the ball going the way I want it to.”
The Torrance course has recently benefited from significant improvements including work on every tee and fairway as well as rebuilding of all the bunkers in a traditional Scottish revetted style.
The improvements were carried out as part of a £17m redevelopment of the five-star resort which also included extensive improvements to its second 18-hole layout – the Kittocks – lavish spa complex, six dining venues and five-star hotel.
WHERE TO GO
For more information on Fairmont St Andrews or to book a stay call 01334 837000 alternatively email standrews.scotland@fairmont.com or visit www.fairmont.com/standrews.