Sam Torrance took The Ryder Cup back to Walton Heath Golf Club, 30 years after making his debut in golf’s greatest team contest at the Surrey venue.
The 2002 Ryder Cup winning Captain was launching The 2011 Senior Open Championship, which will be played over the composite course used for The 1981 Ryder Cup, when a team from the Continent of European took on the United States on home soil for the first time.
Several of the European and American players from that contest are expected to return for the 25th edition of The Senior Open Championship from July 21-24, including Torrance and defending champion Bernhard Langer.
Torrance, who has won the European Senior Tour Order of Merit three times, also got his hands on The Senior Open Championship trophy at Walton Heath, a prize which he will attempt to capture for the first time in July. Discounted advance tickets to watch the galaxy of Senior stars in action are now on sale priced at £60 for a season pass and £16.50 for any one day pass booked before July 1.
“This year’s Senior Open Championship promises to be a fantastic competition,” said Torrance. “To return to Walton Heath, where I made my Ryder Cup debut in 1981, will bring back some special memories for me, even if we lost to probably the greatest ever American team. We got our revenge a few years later though!
“Walton Heath is a fantastic venue and a very traditional course. It will be a very strong field, and I can think of no better place to secure my first Senior Open Championship win.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said on behalf of the Championship: “This year’s Senior Open Championship is a fantastic opportunity for people to come and see the icons of the game they grew up watching on TV over the course that hosted The 1981 Ryder Cup. Spectators are in for a thrilling four days of competition, which will be as tough as ever.
“We are delighted that The Senior Open Championship will return to the South of England following the success of the 2009 Championship at Sunningdale, which attracted fantastic crowds.
“Walton Heath is a highly respected golf course with a great history and we look forward to welcoming the club to our rota of courses to host the Championship and working with their members and officials to make it a great success.”
In addition to The 1981 Ryder Cup, Walton Heath has also hosted the European Open five times and has been the US Open Championship European Qualifying venue since 2005.
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Tickets for The 2011 Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath can be booked now in advance either via www.europeantourtickets.com or by calling +44 (0) 800 023 2557. Admission prices have been frozen for 2011, with advance tickets booked before July 1 now available at £60 for a season pass and any one day pass at £16.50.
