Ryder Cup capt in Senior Open

Corey Pavin will become the first presiding Ryder Cup Captain to play in The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard when he takes his place in the world class field at Carnoustie from July 22-25, 2010.

The 50 year old will makes his debut in the Championship just 11 weeks before he Captains the United States against Colin Montgomerie’s European Team at The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales on October 1-3.

Pavin has made a solid start to life as a senior golfer – finishing runner up in The Cap Cana Championship on the US Champions Tour in March – and despite his Ryder Cup commitments he is targeting a maiden Senior Major Championship to add to his memorable US Open Championship victory in 1995.

“Winning The Senior Open Championship would mean a lot to me,” said Pavin. “Fourth was the best finish I ever had in The Open Championship in 1993 and so any time I can win a Major is great.

“For me, winning a Senior Open would be very special because it is probably my favourite type of golf to play and I don’t get to play it very often.

 “I love playing links golf – it is true golf in my opinion as it requires a lot of imagination and thinking. I like to play golf on the ground, not in the air. I like to run the ball up on the greens – even with my driver I like to hit it low and let it run and take the contour of the fairways if that helps me.

“Links golf suits my game more than any type of golf course but it’s been a while since I’ve played it so I’m going to enjoy it.”

Pavin joins an impressive roll call of Ryder Cup Captains who have played in The Senior Open Championship, including nine last year at Sunningdale: Europeans Sir Nick Faldo, Mark James, Bernhard Langer, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam and fellow Americans Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Tom Lehman and Tom Watson. However he will become the first serving Captain to take part in the prestigious Championship, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this year by returning to Scotland.

“I don’t feel distracted being The Ryder Cup Captain,” he said. “Lisa (his wife) is helping me a lot and that helps me not have to worry about The Ryder Cup but I’m not one to stress about stuff like that anyway – I’m pretty mellow. Maybe not so much on the course – I’m pretty competitive there – but off it I’m as laid back as anyone in the world.

“It seems anywhere I go in the world these days The Ryder Cup comes up, which is great, but going back to Scotland for The Senior Open will be particularly special, especially with the next Ryder Cup in Europe being in Scotland at Gleneagles, not too far from Carnoustie. Anytime people want to talk about The Ryder Cup I love talking about it – I’m very passionate about it. It’s the greatest tournament there is.”

Pavin missed the cut the last time he visited Carnoustie for The Open Championship in 1999 and he is fully aware of the stern threat the notoriously difficult Championship Course can pose.

Spectators can buy tickets now for The Senior Open Championship by visiting www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0) 800 023 2557 or on the gate. One day tickets are £25 and season tickets are £70.

Substantial savings can now be made both on day passes and season tickets for The 2010 Senior Open Championship, which are priced respectively at £16.50 and £60, with a further 10% discount available to MasterCard holders.