Parnevik primed for Sunningdale success

Jesper Parnevik, who twice finished runner-up in The Open Championship, is hoping to go one better when he makes his debut in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Sunningdale Golf Club next month. The colourful Swede, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images (c), turned 50 in March and after struggling with injuries towards the end of his European Tour career, he has returned to competitive action on the US Champions Tour, with a share of fourth place in April’s Greater Gwinnett Championship his best result to date. It is 12 years since Parnevik last played in The Open but he is looking forward to returning to Europe as a Senior rookie to compete in his maiden Senior Open, over the Old Course at Sunningdale from July 23-26. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Parnevik. “It’s been a few years since I’ve played in The Open Championship because of my injuries, but The Open was always one of my favourite events. “Sunningdale is a great place. As long as my body holds up, it is going to be a great week to come back and play on European soil again. “It is an old style golf course. You have to keep the ball in the fairway. It’s a traditional golf course. You need to play good golf around there. But the most special thing is that it is The Senior Open.” Renowned for his flamboyant dress sense, Parnevik boasts an impressive record in The Open, having finished in the top ten on five occasions, including being runner-up twice – in 1994, to Nick Price at Turnberry and at Royal Troon in 1997, when he shared second place with Darren Clarke behind Justin Leonard.  He also represented Europe at the 1997, 1999 and 2002 Ryder Cups and he will be joined at Sunningdale by some of his team-mates from those contests, including defending champion Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam. As well as catching up with old friends, Parnevik is also looking forward playing in front of European galleries again.  “I have so many great memories of playing in the London area, playing in the PGA Championship at Wentworth, the World Match Play, and playing at Sunningdale,” he said. “London was our hub when we played in Europe. It’s always great to go back. My family will be there too – we spend the summer in Sweden, so it will be a lot of fun.” Discounted tickets for The 2015 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Sunningdale Golf Club are available in advance, with season tickets priced at £70 if purchased before July 1, while one-day tickets cost £25 and Wednesday practice day tickets are £12. Under 16s are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult and parking is also free. *News earlier in the day  that  Parnevik had withdrawn from the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship due to illness. =