Woosnam targeting title win at Slaley
May 23 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
IAN Woosnam made history on two tours as he successfully battled the energy-sapping ME virus in 2008, his rookie season on the European Seniors Tour.
But the former Masters champion said yesterday he still has unfinished – and major – business when he tees it up again at Slaley Hall next month.
The 51-year-old Welshman was in Ohio when he confirmed his entry for The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship, a four-day tournament which starts at Slaley on June 25.
Woosnam and fellow Ryder Cup-winning captain Sam Torrance, also playing at Slaley, held top-10 positions after the first round of the American Senior PGA Championship at the Canterbury club in Beachwood.
The Slaley tournament is the flagship event of the European Seniors Tour and Woosnam joins Torrance in trying to wrest the title from defending champion Gordon J Brand.
Woosnam is relishing a return to Slaley after enduring mixed fortunes on his debut at the venue last year, when he carded an opening-round 79 – complaining bitterly about slow play – and only narrowly made the cut.
It was a rare blip in a brilliant season for Woosnam, as he became the first player to win the Order of Merit on both the European Tour (1987 and 1990) and the Senior Tour.
“It would be lovely to win the PGA Seniors Championship – it’s the next best thing after a Major Championship,” he said. “Hopefully I can play better than I did last year.”
Shortly after last year’s historic season, Woosnam made it clear he had not been fully fit.
He said then: “Because of the virus, I would still say I’m nowhere near 100%, I’m probably around 75%.”
But he said yesterday: “I’m looking forward to Slaley, by which time I shall have played eight tournaments in a row.
“I’m going to get there early and have a couple of practice rounds. Last year was tough because of the bad weather, but hopefully we’ll get decent weather and it will be a great week.
“I’ve won the Senior Order of Merit now and so I want to get on and win a major – that’s the next step for me, and I’ll get a chance at Slaley Hall, if not before.”
Daniel Hodson, director of Golf and Leisure for De Vere, said: “Woosie is a great addition to the field and we’re delighted to be welcoming him to Slaley Hall again this year.
“To have two winning Ryder Cup captains, in Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, headlining again this year alongside a long list of former Ryder Cup stars and past European Tour winners underlines the standing the event and the venue has among the very best players on the Seniors Tour.”
SPECTATORS can get a free ticket to watch Woosnam, Torrance and the other ex-European Tour stars compete for the £250,000 prize fund at Slaley.
Special complimentary ticket offer at visiting www.devere-hotels.co.uk/pga.
