Maybe the words from the mouth of joint runner-up Gary Wolstenholme, when the last group entered the recording room after the final round at the Benahavis Senior Masters, were more fitting than anything the worthy champion Carl Mason had to say.
“I’ve learned a lot out there,” said Wolstenholme, minutes after his overnight lead was overturned by his playing partner Mason as the European Senior Tour’s record tournament winner made it title number 25 in Spain.
The 58 year old’s ability to seal the deal on Championship Sunday is a gift which is held by very few, and admired by many – it is one of the most wondrous sights to behold from outside the ropes, and provides the greatest memories for any supporter of the game of golf.
Anyone who has followed, or indeed played alongside Mason, will understand.
Having played 19 years on The European Tour without a win though, that breakthrough did not come easy for Mason; but when it did come, at the 1994 Open de España, it certainly changed his perspective.
Another European Tour victory followed that year, at the Scottish Open, but it was when he entered the domain of the Senior Tour that the floodgates well and truly opened.
Now, 25 titles later, that knack of winning tournaments which proves elusive to so many players clearly comes second nature to Mason.
“It helps when you know how to do it,” he explained. “You can draw back from it and think ‘you’ve done it before, nothing fancy’.
“In my mind I just try and make it as simple as possible, and not get all clogged up by thinking I have to hit it one way or the other way. Just get it on the fairway, then the green, keep it as simple as possible and not too complicated.
“I accepted when I had my three-putt in Spain, and just played solidly over the last three holes.”
The affable Englishman appears to enjoy every win just as much as the last, but his focus remains the same – to take it shot by shot, hole by hole and just try to let things flow.
“I hope I’ve got some years left,” he continued. “I don’t know how many more wins I’ve got ahead of me, but I’m 58 and I’m just pleased to have won again and to have won twice this year. I’m really chuffed.
“I've managed to keep my run of winning every season going. As I said before, the standards are getting better and you have to play well, so to have won twice this year already is great.”
News
