Paul Broadhurst is the youngest swinger in town at Woburn this week, and he will be head-hunting some of the older veterans of the senior game when the popular Travis Perkins Masters tees off over the Duke’s Course on Friday.
The Midlander claimed his rookie victory on the European Senior Tour last Sunday just 15 days after celebrating his milestone 50th birthday. Now, Broadhurst attempts to defy history by becoming the first player to win his first two starts on the Senior Tour.
However Broadhurst, who today maintained last week’s fine form at the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open by helping his team win the Wednesday Pro-Am curtain-raiser, is studiously avoiding the record books as he prepares to return to a familiar old haunt in Woburn.
“I saw the statistics, but my aim is exactly the same as it was in Scotland – just to try to get into contention on Sunday and be within two or three shots of the leaders and then see what happens” said the English Ryder Cup player.
“I am not even thinking about anything other than my first tee shot on Friday. There is a lot of golf to be played this week before I even think about anything else.”
Broadhurst, who admitted he had been “wishing my life away” from his mid-forties until his 50th birthday on August 14, is loving the thrill of competition he used to experience as a six-time champion on The European Tour.
“It’s been great to meet up with some of the old gang again, like Sam Torrance and Gordon Brand Jnr, at Archerfield last week. Of course, Roger Chapman is playing this week and Monty is defending his title and I feel fortunate to be drawn with both of them in the first round on Friday. It’s some added pressure being in the company of two Senior Major winners.
“Last week came as a little bit of a surprise. I was always hopeful of a fast start but to win my first tournament was a dream come true.”
Broadhurst, who won both his matches in the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, can’t wait to renew his acquaintance with the Duke’s Course, where he played in the British Masters in the late 1990s.
“Woburn is a really top course, which has staged a host of men’s and ladies' tournaments and having played in the Pro-Am it’s a lot different to what I remember. In the past it played fast and fiery but today it was soft and long. However it’s in great condition and we should be set for a great event on Friday.”
