Torrance signs up for Slaley seniors
May 15 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
SAM Torrance, who re-ignited the fire on what had seemed to be the dying embers of his career at Slaley Hall last year, yesterday confirmed his entry for next month’s De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at the same venue.
The Ryder Cup-winning captain, with 21 triumphs in his days on the European Tour, is hoping his fine run of form since signing off at Slaley last time with a 67 will lead to what would be a third double strike.
Each time Torrance has won the flagship tournament of the European Tour’s senior circuit, in 2005 and 2006, he has also gone on to win its Order of Merit. Before his finale at Slaley last year, he had struggled through the tournament looking for the spark he needed to get him back on track after two years troubled by a hand injury. Torrance then came in with a five-under-par finish to tie for third place behind winner Gordon J Brand, and he has been on a purple patch ever since. After finishing runner up in the Scottish Seniors Open, he ended the 2008 campaign by winning the OKI Castellón Open España – Senior Tour Championship.
Torrance began the 2009 season by finishing tied sixth in the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, before capturing his 11th Senior Tour title in the DGM Barbados Open.
That maintained his run of winning an event in each of the last six seasons and he said: “The PGA Championship at Slaley is one of our biggest events so I look forward to playing in it.
“I’ve won it twice before so I would like to win it again. I want to win the Order of Merit this year so this is one of the big tournaments in the season.”
The Seniors is a four-day tournament starting on June 25. With the tournament now moved forward two months in the golf calendar following its return to Slaley last year, this year’s final round on Sunday, June 28 no longer clashes with The Rock Junior Festival at Matfen Hall.
That frees up hundreds of youngsters – and their parents – to go along to Slaley and watch masters of the craft of golf.
Golfers will also be able to enjoy a special feature of this year’s Seniors – the Nike Interactive Golf Zone. The Slaley Hall team of professionals will be in the zone giving free coaching and all golfers can try out all the latest irons, woods and putters.
SPECTATORS can take advantage of a limited number of complimentary tickets for the PGA Seniors Championship, which are available to download at www.devere-hotels.co.uk/pga
