After winning on his first appearance in 2015, and then emerging triumphant at The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Carnoustie the following year, Paul Broadhurst quickly announced himself as one of Europe’s finest over-50s golfers.
The winner of the John Jacobs Trophy in 2016, Broadhurst was bidding to follow in Colin Montgomerie’s footsteps as the last golfer to finish at the top of the Order of Merit in successive seasons.
The Englishman started the year with a sixth-placed finish at the inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq. He then made the cut at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open, marking a strong start to the 2017 season.
His historic victory at Carnoustie earned him a place at Royal Birkdale for the 146thedition of The Open, missing the cut by just one stroke after contending with the worst of the weather in a difficult draw.
He made a valiant defence of the Senior Claret Jug at Royal Porthcawl, finishing in a respectable share of 15thplace. The following week, he would go on to win his third European Senior Tour title.
Broadhurst fired an opening round of 66 at Renaissance Club, and then held a share of the lead after the second day with Magnus P Atlevi – the pair finished first and second on the Order of Merit in 2016.
Taking advantage of the practice he had at both Royal Birkdale and Royal Porthcawl, Broadhurst mastered the elements and secured his second Scottish Senior Open title.
Two years after winning on his over-50s debut at neighbouring golf course Archerfield, Broadhurst finished three strokes ahead of the chasing pack for his third victory on Scottish soil in four events.
Winner of the Open de France at Le Golf National in 1995, Broadhurst returned to The 2018 Ryder Cup venue for the Paris Legends Championship.
He went toe-to-toe with two-time Major Champion John Daly on the final day, but pulled clear over the final seven holes on L’Albatros course to finish two strokes ahead of the American. It was his tenth victory in Europe, having won six times on the European Tour in addition to his four over-50s titles.
Victory in Paris meant that he still had a mathematical chance of winning the John Jacobs Trophy at the final event of the season, the MCB Tour Championship.
Broadhurst was runner-up to Barry Lane in 2016, but needed to go one better in 2017 and hope that other permutations went his way.
Clark Dennis finishing fifth meant that the American would leave Mauritius with the John Jacobs Trophy, but Broadhurst capped a fine year with a final round 67 and a share of seventh place.
Key stats
Money earned: €158,282
Average finishing position: 11th
Top ten finishes: Four
Stroke average: 69.71
