Senior’s success all in the timing
PETER Senior was on the 14th hole at Sydney’s Killara Golf Club when he called PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman to give him the news.
“I’m hitting it all right. You may as well put an entry in for me,” he said.
It was 15 minutes before the deadline for entries were due earlier this month to this year’s Australian PGA Championship where the Gold Coast legend has put himself in the frame to win a fourth crown.
Senior put on a masterclass at Royal Pines in round 1 yesterday, hitting every green but one – the 12th – on his way to shooting a five-under par 67 that has him tied for second behind leaders Jordan Zunic and Adam Bland.
It comes 18 months after the 58-year-old retired following a career that yielded Australian PGA Championship wins in 1989, 2003 and 2010.
“I just had one of those days,” Senior said of his round.
“I got off to a good start and I didn’t’ miss many fairways. There are some really long par fours on this course for me and I played them really well. That’s the key to me having a good score.
“I thought I might be a bit nervous because I haven’t played a fully fledged tournament in 18 months but I wasn’t.
“I hit a couple of good shots to start and away I went. I was pretty happy with how I felt.”
Only a campaign by Kirkman and Senior’s wife June convinced him to play in what he still considers a “one off”.
“I wasn’t going to play and then I said to June ‘I’m feeling pretty good about my game’. So we made the decision. Even though I put my entry in I still wasn’t sure but I’m happy to be here,” he said.
Senior still features in Legends Tour pro-am events but some weeks he only hits the course once.
He may get sore feet and has to choose longer clubs than some of the younger players but Senior hasn’t lost any of the game that has made him one of Australia’s greatest.
“I still enjoy practising,” Senior said.
“My coach Gary Edwin and I have worked really hard for this last week. I said to him if I’m going to play I don’t want to play like a moron. He has put in a lot of work – and his son Luke – in to my putting.”
Marquee player and US Masters champion Sergio Garcia was up at 4am eating granola to prepare for his 6.10am tee off but Senior still beat him out of bed despite not starting until 11.30am.
Senior is yet to play alongside the 37-year-old – who also shot five-under par – but could meet him later this week if they both continue to fire.