Ian Woosnam has scaled numerous peaks during a stellar career in professional golf – and now he aims to storm a Roman outpost in his native Wales and claim that elusive first title on home soil in more than 30 years.
The Roman Road course at The Celtic Manor Resort hosts the 13th edition of the Wales Senior Open, sponsored for the first time by SSE Enterprise, and Woosnam hopes that he can overcome travel fatigue to thrill his legions of supporters in Wales.
The former Masters Champion has go back to the 1983 Silk Cut Masters at St. Pierre in Chepstow to find his last victory on Welsh soil, but a recent debut success on the US Champions Tour has helped Woosnam to rediscover that winning feeling.
“I’ve had my share of successes and disappointments in Wales, but this is a golf course I know reasonably well,” declared Woosnam, who stepped off a flight from the United States 48 hours earlier having played in all four rounds of the US Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid in Indiana.
As the sun beat down on the Resort for the second day of Pro-Am competition, Woosnam laughed as he was presented with two of his old clubs discovered in the Celtic Manor Academy which had been lying there for around 15 years. “They feel nice, but they won’t go back in my bag this week,” he joked.
Getting serious for a moment, he added: “I just hope I have enough energy to carry me through the weekend. I just flew back from the States after playing in the US Senior PGA Championship and the travelling does take a bit out of you.
“I was disappointed with my finish in the Senior PGA last week. I shot a good round of 68 in the third round but only really hit one bad shot in the final round which went in the wrong spot and I struggled. It was that sort of course that could jump up and bite you.”
Woosnam came close to victory in the inaugural Wales Open on The European Tour in 2000 and again in 2005 over the Roman Road, and he added: “It’s great to be back in Wales and that SSE are here as title sponsor. They’ve sponsored the Scottish Senior Open for a few years and were talking about doing this event.
“It’s nice that SSE Enterprises have done just that. It means such a lot to us and I hope the people come out, the sun shines and we get the level of support we like to see at tournaments. It’s always reasonably priced and there are a lot of talented guys playing out here.
“For me, it is always great to play in front of home fans and to see so many old friends which I don’t get to see so often these days. I will be trying my best to entertain them at Celtic Manor! I have to go back to 1983 at St. Pierre for my last win in Wales and there have been some disappointments and close calls since then. Hopefully I can do it this week.”
Meanwhile, another European Tour winner, Mark Mouland, is also banking on home comforts providing the desired effect over the next three days. He revealed that he has played the Roman Road twice recently in the company of another Tour winner, Gordon Brand Jnr, and said: “It’s a lovely track and has come on a ton since Gordon and I played. The greens are a bit fiery but it’s nice to be back here.
“I feel relaxed, being close to home. I live 35 minutes away so can commute to the course daily and if I can only hole a few more putts – you never know!”
England’s Phil Golding won the last Wales Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl in 2013 and aims to draw on that positive experience this week. “I suppose, technically speaking, I am defending champion as the event wasn’t held last year,” he said.
“It’s great to be back in Wales. I’ve always enjoyed playing here, although I haven’t played the Roman Road since 2005 and 2006. It’s a lovely set-up – three terrific courses and I can understand why people enjoy coming to the Resort.
“It would be nice if we see a spin-off from the Senior Open, which was so successful at Royal Porthcawl last summer. Great weather, great field and massive crowds. I obviously have a soft spot for Porthcawl, as I won the Wales Senior Open there in 2013 to claim my first title on the European Senior Tour. It is very special to defend a title and really nice to see your name on the list of winners.”
In addition to the title sponsor, SSE Enterprise, the event is being supported by the Major Events Unit of the Wales Government, The Celtic Manor Resort, Nemo Personal Finance and numerous other local companies.
