ROYAL BIRKDALE TO HOST 2013 SENIOR PRO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND A
Royal Birkdale, in Southport, Lancashire, will become the 11th different course to host The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex when it stages the 27th edition of this prestigious event in 2013.
The celebrated Lancashire links venue will become the seventh venue to host both an Open Championship and a Senior Open Championship, following Turnberry, Royal Lytham and St Annes, Royal Portrush, Muirfield, Royal Troon and Carnoustie.
Royal Birkdale has hosted The Open Championship on nine occasions, the most recent being in 2008 when Irishman Padraig Harrington held off a determined challenge from Greg Norman to win his second consecutive Claret Jug.
Australian Norman will be one of the players eligible for The Senior Open Championship when it visits Royal Birkdale for the first time from July 25-28, 2013, along with Tom Watson and Mark O’Meara, winners of The Open Championship at the venue in 1983 and 1998 respectively.
Royal Birkdale, which also hosted The Ryder Cup in 1965 and 1969, will be the fourth venue in England to host The Senior Open Championship, following Royal Lytham and St Annes (1991-1994), Sunningdale (2009) and Walton Heath. The latter venue hosted the 2011 Championship last month when American Russ Cochran held off Mark Calcavecchia, Corey Pavin and Tom Watson to win the title.
The 2012 Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, the first with Rolex as Presenting Patron, will be played at Turnberry, from July 26-29 next year.