Tips and Tuition
If you had one tip for a 20 handicap golfer, what would it be?
"It would be to work hard on your short game and putting."
What’s the best advice you’ve been given by anyone on Tour?
"Sam Torrance once said to me, ‘Don’t weaken a strength to strengthen a weakness.’ I’ve never forgotten that, so I never try to draw the ball now!"
What’s your last thought before you hit a driver?
"Get my left shoulder over my right shoe. This makes sure I fully rotate and don’t snatch the club away."
Favourites
What is your favourite course and why?
"The Oconee Course at the Reynolds Plantation Resort in Greensboro, United States. I played one of my six PGA Cup matches there against the USA. It was an incredible week and an awesome course."
What is your favourite hole and why?
"It would be the 18th hole at WinstonGolf, in Vorbeck, Germany. On the last day of the WinstonGolf Senior Open in 2014, I played the 18th hole four times, three of them in a play-off with Bernhard Langer and Phil Golding. I birdied it three out of the four times, and nearly holed my second shot twice!"
What is your favourite club in the bag?
"My putter. I love putting even though I change it quite often. That’s something I’m going to try not to do in 2016, but I’ll probably fail on that one."
What is your favourite Ryder Cup moment?
"It has to be Sam Torrance’s winning putt on the 18th green at The Belfry in 1985."
What has been your favourite tournament to compete in throughout your career?
"The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. I loved playing in it even though I never did very well."
Who would make up your dream fourball?
"Tom Hanks, Michael Caine and Billy Connolly."
Personal highlights
If you had to pick the greatest shot from your career, when and where would it have been?
"It has to be my second shot with a rescue club into the par five 18th on the last day at the MCB Tour Championship, Mauritius in 2013.
That was a great finish to an incredible year for me. Winning the MCB Tour Championship confirmed my European Senior Tour Order of Merit victory in 2013. I can remember it like it was yesterday."
When was your first hole-in-one? (as a professional or an amateur)
"My first and most lucky hole-in-one came when I was a 6 handicap playing in a Winter league match at my then home club, Kings Lynn Golf Club in Norfolk.
"It was a Winter green on the 136-yard 12th hole. I pulled my nine iron into the tree left of the green. I saw it bounce around the tree a bit before rolling down a branch, dropping on to the green and rolling into the hole. Class!"
What and where was your first professional pay cheque?
It was in a Bucks, Berks and Oxfords Assistants Event in 1986. I can’t remember where it was but I won £50. I thought I’d won the lottery.
Memories from the Tour
What is the most unusual thing that has happened to you on the course?
"It wasn’t on Tour, but as junior member at Kings Lynn Golf Club I was playing in really heavy rain and my driver slipped out of my hands on the follow through. It went up into a tree and stayed there. I had to climb up and get it back. From that point I decided it was worth wearing a glove."
What’s the most nervous you’ve ever felt on the golf course?
"It was on the first tee of my debut Open at Muirfield in 1992. I was playing with Paul Lawrie and Jose Coceres. I could hardly feel the club. I semi skinned my opening drive. It started so low and seemed to bounce off the front of the teeing area and went straight down the middle. It sounded like I ripped it."
The state of the game
If you could change one rule of golf, what would it be?
"I hate driving straight down the middle of the fairway and ending up in a divot. It’s so unfair and I wish we could drop it."
What has been golf’s best technological improvement?
"It has to be the metal driver. They are so forgiving."
Can you suggest one idea to combat slow play?
"It’s simple, just walk to your ball quicker. I’ve played in Japan a lot in the last couple of years and it’s not unusual to see players running down the fairways to catch up."
Away from the fairways
Outside of golf, who is your sporting hero?
"David Beckham."
What was the first album you bought?
"Electric Light Orchestra, Out of the Blue."
What is your favourite film?
"I love the Bourne films, I’ve watched them so many times."
What was your first car?
"It was a mustard Mini Clubman Estate."
If you could take one song, book and luxury item to a desert island, what would you take?
"The song would be Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve and my luxury item would be my laptop if there was Wifi. As far as a book goes, I’m not a big reader."
