After making his European Senior Tour debut at the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open, Steven Richardson believes he has some work to do to match his former Ryder Cup teammates on the over-50s circuit.
The Englishman, who played under Bernard Gallacher at The 1991 Ryder Cup, turned 50 on the Sunday of the Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex, and is now eligible to take part in Senior Tour events, making his bow at Archerfield Links last week.
“I was really impressed with the standard,” he said. “Ronan (Rafferty) scoring 14 under par over two rounds is great.
“You could probably see a score of maybe eight or nine after two rounds, but 14 is crazy, and he had Santiago Luna and a couple of others just a few shots behind him after that second round.
“There are birdie chances out there, but you still have to make them. You can’t afford many mistakes.”
A three-time winner on the European Tour, Richardson enjoyed a breakthrough year in 1991 when he won the Girona Open and Portuguese Open, and recorded 12 further top ten results as he finished second to the late, great Seve Ballesteros on the Order of Merit, which led to a Ryder Cup call-up.
At Kiawah Island, Richardson partnered 1999 Ryder Cup Captain Mark James in Friday’s and Saturday’s afternoon fourballs, and the Saturday foursomes matches, securing two points for Europe.
His third European Tour title came in 1993, when he won the German Masters, finishing ahead of European greats, and future Ryder Cup Captains, Bernhard Langer and José Mariá Olazábal.
Richardson played alongside five of his teammates from that European Ryder Cup team 25 years ago at the Scottish Senior Open.
“I loved seeing all the lads who I used to play with again,” he said.” The camaraderie is great and is still there to see.
“I do think my standard of golf has to improve, from what I’ve seen so far. If I can swing better, I’ll be fine. I putted well over the weekend though.
“I enjoyed my first event, it was good fun. It’ll be good for me to get back into this environment on a regular basis.”
