Oct9 Senior Open
Published: Last updated:
The Senior Open Championship is to be played at Sunningdale in 2009, the first time the senior major event will be held on a heathland course, before moving the following year to Carnoustie, scene of this year’s Open Championship victory by Padraig Harrington.
Since its inception in 1987, the Senior Open has been held on links courses and Carnoustie in 2010 will be the sixth Open Championship venue to stage an event that is jointly administered by the European Seniors Tour and The R&A.
Royal Troon is the venue for 2008 and other Open courses to have held the Seniors are Turnberry, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Portrush and Muirfield.
Sunningdale, the 2090 venue, has previously hosted the Walker Cup, Seve Trophy, European Open and International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship, and will also stage the 2008 Women’s British Open.
Carnoustie first hosted The Open in 1931 and champions crowned there included Tommy Armour, Henry Cotton, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Tom Watson before Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington won the title after play-offs in 1999 and 2007.
David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A, said: “For many years we have enjoyed a very strong relationship with Sunningdale, our venue for IFQ Europe, and Carnoustie, this year’s Open Championship venue. We are thrilled that we will be taking the Senior Open Championship to these excellent venues in 2009 and 2010.”
Captain of Sunningdale, Richard Royds, commented: “I am sure that the competitors will relish taking on The Old Course which remains a terrific challenge for golf at the highest level.”
Gordon Murray, Carnoustie Golf Links Chairman, said: “We will be aiming to produce the Championship course in the same outstanding condition as it was for this year’s Open, and everyone at Carnoustie is looking forward to an event that has so many great champions taking part.”
Tom Watson will be the defending champion at Royal Troon in 2008, the scene of his Open Championship victory in 1982. He won his third Senior Open title at Muirfield in July, defeating Mark O’Meara and Stewart Ginn by a stroke.
