European Tour, Seniors Open,

 

 

Tim Thelan (Getty Images

The European Tour Seniors Open was won by Tim Thelan at the  Bad Ragaz course in Switzerland on Sunday. The American had to resist the challenge of former Ryder Cup  Captains in Ian Woosnam and Mark James to take home the €42,000 first prize. After also winning last week Tim said he could get used to the feeling, after he signed for a final round of -3 under par for a 67 that gave him            a -12 under par total and secured a two-shot win over Mark James, with Ian Woosnam a further shot back in third.

“I could get used to this feeling. This is pretty amazing to win a second event in seven days. I played great again this week and to come out on top against another two of the game’s great players in Mark James and Ian Woosnam is very satisfying. I looked at the leaderboard on the 16th and saw I had a two shot lead, then Mark  birdied the last to cut the lead to one. So that seven iron on seventeen really was a fabulous shot. Making that birdie putt was a big moment too because it gave me a cushion to play the last.”

Sir Bob Charles’s first round of 66 in Bad Ragaz  saw the Kiwi better his age by a European Senior Tour record of ten shots, while Gary Player’s scores of 72-70-71 were a testament to the nine-time Major Champion’s fitness and competitive drive. Sir Bob finished  the week at one over par in a tie for 42nd place,  just two shots ahead of Gary who was in a tie for 50th.

 

Kiwi Legend Sir Bob Charles shoots 66, at age 76.

Sir Bob Charles and Gary Player (Getty Images)

Kiwi Legend Sir Bob Charles, aged 76, shot an incredible first round 66, -4 under par, to be tied third at the PGA Seniors Open tournament at the Golf Club Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. He is currently just two shots off the lead, held by David J Russell of England.

Kiwi Sir Bob was the first left-hander to win a Major,  at the 1963 Open Championship, at Royal Lytham and St Annes, the venue for this years Open. Sir Bob was very pleased with his round, and so he should be;

“That was one of those dream rounds. I have just bettered my age by ten shots, I have never got anywhere near that figure before. It’s quite remarkable really. I hope it’s a record. I have had some great days in my career and this is one of them. I felt young again. My putting certainly reminded me of the days of my youth. I hit a lot of good shots and never missed any short putts and that was the secret really. I made two really big 15-foot par putts to and they were crucial. I take a lot of satisfaction from today. These days that is the goal and today was, as I said, like a dream and one I will never forget.”

He spoke his decision to come out of retirement;

“I came back here because I love Bad Ragaz, I love Switzerland, and I love coming back here to this golf club because the welcome we receive is overwhelming. I retired because I wasn’t competitive anymore and I always said that I didn’t want to hang around if I couldn’t compete. Unfortunately when you get to my age the golf shots get shorter and the golf courses get longer and that combination is just not compatible. But that’s what made today so special. It felt great out there. Can I win the tournament? I would doubt it but you just never know if I can keep putting as well as I did today.”

Good luck for tomorrow, Sir Bob, one of New Zealand’s finest.