In his trio of seasons on the European Senior Tour, three has become the magic number for hat-trick specialist Philip Golding.
The Englishman set a new record in his debut season in 2012, becoming the first player to post three consecutive rounds of 64 when he signed for that score in the second and final rounds en route to finishing runner-up at the SSE Scottish Senior Open before opening with the same number at the Wales Senior Open a week later.
He then returned to the latter tournament the following year and earned his maiden victory, joining a select group of players who have won titles on all three of the European, Challenge and Senior Tours.
Last season, Golding claimed another unique hat-trick when he became the first player to win in the same country on all three Tours, adding the French Riviera Masters title on the Senior Tour to his 1999 Open de Volcans victory on the Challenge Tour and 2003 Open de France win on The European Tour.
Now he is hoping to continue the sequence by claiming his third Senior Tour title in 2015.
Golding has been one of the most consistent performers on the European Senior Tour since turning 50 in July 2012, finishing 17th on the Order of Merit having made just seven appearances in his rookie season, followed by sixth in 2013 and fourth last year.
Such improvement means he is naturally setting lofty goals for himself for the new campaign.
“I want to compete more in the Majors,” said the 52 year old. “I played in all three this year and made the cut in two, but I didn’t really compete on the weekend. To win again is obviously a goal, and to maybe win more than once would be nice.
“I finished top four on the Order of Merit in 2014 after finishing top six in 2013, so it would be nice to keep improving in that respect. I’ll work hard over the winter, try to improve and to try to get stronger and keep my flexibility, whilst also working on the swing. Hopefully it will pay off.”
Golding’s work away from the course has certainly contributed to his success, with his gym routine ensuring he is among the fittest on the Senior Tour. Although part-time Ironman competitor Steen Tinning might set the benchmark in that respect, Golding knows that keeping in shape is an important part of the modern game.
“I go to the gym a lot and I make sure I stretch,” he said. “As you get older that is particularly important as you get a bit tighter. I’ve always done it and I enjoy it. I’m not in the same league as Steen, but I’m certainly up there on the Senior Tour.”
Golding’s victory in France in September came in the middle of a superb run of form which spanned three tournaments, naturally. In the previous event, the WINSTONgolf Senior Open in Germany, he joined Paul Wesselingh and Bernhard Langer in a play-off, which Wesselingh won on the third extra hole.
Then, a week after his French win, he finished joint runner-up again, this time to Ian Woosnam at the Dutch Senior Open. His form across those three events helped Golding end the year in fourth position on the Order of Merit, behind Colin Montgomerie, Rick Gibson and Barry Lane.
“I’d been playing quite nicely before the win in France, obviously getting into the play-off at the WINSTONgolf Senior Open with Paul Wesselingh and Bernhard Langer, but it was great to get another win,” he said.
“I played really nicely in France and coped well with the delays we had. I felt as if I’d played well a few times over the year but the putter was cold, so it was nice to putt well that week.
“There aren’t many players who have won on all three Tours and to get three wins in France – on the Challenge Tour, the European Tour and now the Senior Tour – is quite a record. I definitely like France.
Three, or rather trois, certainly seems to be the magic number for Golding.
