Our press officer at Woburn takes you behind the scenes at the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters.
Poulter's spirit being felt in Woburn press room
Ian Poulter couldn't make it to his home club Woburn Golf Club this week but his presence was being well and truly felt in The Poulter Room, which has been the temporary press room for the week.
The 11 time European Tour winner is known for his extravagant dress sense and we're guessing he probably had more than a little influence on the new pair of colourful chairs sitting pretty in the corner (pictured).
Finally, the fashionable king of Woburn has a suitable throne to come home to.
Ray of Sunshine at Woburn
Amidst the many experienced faces in the Woburn Clubhouse on Thursday, there appeared a bright bunch of smiling young faces as students from the Lincroft Middle School came along on Pro-Am day to receive a very special gift.
In what is an annual initiative at the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters to give something back to the community, the tournament’s title sponsors once again provided one school with a brand new Variety Club Sunshine coach to be used to transport kids to and from sports tournaments and activities.
The initiative is funded by Travis Perkins plc and organised through the Variety Club Golf Society and Lincroft Middle School, from the village of Oakley in Bedfordshire, was the lucky recipient this year.
Former World light heavyweight champion boxer John Conteh was on hand to present the school’s headmaster Mike Lavelle with the keys to the coach.
While Mr Lavelle was understandably delighted with the donation, he may have had to double job after the presentation by dropping all the kids back to their respective houses after they were plucked from their school holidays and dressed in their uniforms to attend!
All change at Woburn
The Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters is a tournament that has always maintained its prestige but this year it has a slightly new twist as players and fans were greeted by a refurbished clubhouse complete with a glitzy new entrance.
The day after the Duke of Bedford presented Des Smyth with the trophy last year, work immediately began on the multi-million pound transformation of the clubhouse.
Originally built in 1979, the clubhouse has retained plenty of its old charm and atmosphere but now features a new reception, a new golfer’s lounge and happily for many of the attendees this week, two new bar areas!
Too many legends, not enough time
If some of the greatest names in golf weren’t enough to be feasting upon at Wonderful Woburn this weekend, the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters welcomed another sporting legend on Saturday afternoon when former three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart roared into Woburn’s striking new clubhouse facility.
The ‘Flying Scotsman’ as he was known when he dominated the world of motor sport takes things a little easier than when he was approaching hairpin bends at 150mph during his pomp, but his energy and enthusiasm for life remains as infectious as ever. Any chance of a lift home Sir Jackie?
Woosie putting new methods to good use
For many years now, it has been hard to get a mental image of the great Ian Woosnam without also picturing the broom handle putter with which he has become synonymous in the most recent part of his career.
The Welsh wizard was one of the pioneers of the extra-length putter in the professional game but has made the surprising switch back to a regular putter this week.
Having struggled with his putting this year, the former Ryder Cup Captain decided to revert back to prototype and a small putter ahead of this week’s Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at Woburn.
“I’ve been playing with a short putter which I haven’t done for a few years but I’m putting quite nicely with it," said Woosnam,
“I just wasn’t quite holing enough for a while and I just fancied a change, I’ve had a couple of days using it in Portugal and I was putting really well with it but it’s a bit different when you’ve got a card in your hand.”
The pressure of the occasion certainly didn’t deter Woosnam or his new putter as he shot an opening round 70, going into the second day just three shots off the lead.
