Defending Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open champion Paul Broadhurst said there was never any doubt that he would return to Archerfield Links this weekend to defend his title, after his Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex success.
Broadhurst returns to Archerfield’s Fidra course just days after playing at the US Senior Open Championship where rain delayed the final round until Monday.
Despite this, Broadhurst says he is ready to defend his title on the same course where he made his European Senior Tour debut last year after turning 50 years old, which was designed by fellow member DJ Russell.
“I think DJ was a little concerned about me coming to defend my title, but I was always going to come back here,” said Broadhurst. “I love this place. It’s in a lovely part of the world and it’s a course I enjoy.
“I wasn’t in (the field) for the US Senior Open last week until I won the Senior Open, so it’s been a bit manic.
“It’s been quite a life changer. I’m still coming to terms with it. The replica trophy arrived the week before I went over to the United States, so that helped it sink in a bit.”
In his last Senior Tour event, the Senior Open at Carnoustie Golf Links, Broadhurst overturned a four-shot deficit to win the title by two shots from Scott McCarron, marking his second victory on the over-50s circuit after his win at Archerfield in 2015.
“Things like that don’t happen to me,” he said. “I have to get used to it. I have to get used to the expectations and what it means. There was a bit of expectation last week from other players, that was the feeling I got.
“I played with Scott Hoch on the last day and I didn’t play that well. I made the cut there and play okay on the first day, and was going along nicely the second day.
“It’s been quite a long week. I got back for a day, managed to nip over and see my coach for an hour, for a bit of emergency surgery on my game, before I drove up here.”
Joining Paul Broadhurst in the 54-man field are Scotsmen Gordon Brand Jnr, Ross Drummond, Bill Longmuir, Andrew Oldcorn and 2002 Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance.
Also making his Senior Tour debut at Archerfield is former Ryder Cup star Steven Richardson. The Englishman turned 50 on July 24, the final day of the Senior Open Championship, and played in the same Ryder Cup as Broadhurst in 1991, securing two points for Europe alongside Mark James in the fourballs at Kiawah Island.
Ticket information for the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open is available here, and to find out more about Prostate Cancer UK's continued work in golf from hosting a golf day to making mistakes matter by 'Chipping In', click here.
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