St Andrews boost for the Senior Open field
As The Open draws to a conclusion today, attention will shift across the Firth of Tay to St Andrews for an extra-special Senior Open.
That’s because the tournament is heading to the Home of Golf for the first time in its 31-year history.
It’s a real coup for over-50s golf, and stars of yesteryear like Tom Watson don’t want to miss the chance to play St Andrews again.
The event is also the highlight of the year on the renamed Staysure Tour, and chief executive David Maclaren cannot wait.
“I can sense the excitement,” he tells The Sunday Post.
“I was at the US Seniors Open last month at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, which is the most beautiful place. But people were all talking about coming over to St Andrews.
“The Senior Open has been a Major for a long time, but any time you take a tournament to the Home of Golf, it elevates it several levels.
“This is an opportunity for us to showcase over-50s golf to the world. “We have more than 20 Ryder Cup players and 30 Major champions in the field. It’s wonderful to have marquee names like Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, the king of Seniors golf.
“St Andrews attracts players who wouldn’t automatically come over. Whether you love links golf or not, you can learn to love St Andrews.
“It has taken a lot of work to have this Open there, and I would like to think that it won’t be our last visit. “We’ve been to places like Sunningdale and Royal Porthcawl, but every time we go to an Open venue, it adds history, kudos and excitement. So I don’t need to apologise for emphasising that.” Maclaren has been a busy man since taking his role in May 2016.
The main responsibility has been the change of name, with the acquisition of a title sponsor for the tour providing a shot-in-the-arm for a much-improved schedule. “There is a more positive outlook,” he says. “We have added nine new tournaments since the start of 2017 and we have two more confirmed for next year.
“It’s a huge upward curve and it gives confidence to our players as the momentum of our Tour is building. But we must not pat ourselves on the back.
“The change of name has been a very positive move and it has a big sporting and commercial appeal.”