Switzerland’s André Bossert is targeting a maiden win on home soil as the European Senior Tour returns to Golf Club Bad Ragaz for the 20th edition of the Swiss Seniors Open.
Staged in the beautiful resort destination, the Senior Tour has stopped off in Bad Ragaz every year since 1997 with 15 different members taking home the title.
Carl Mason, who is in the field for this week’s event, has won the event on three occasions and Bossert hopes to etch his name next to Mason’s on the prestigious trophy.
“I would like to win an event on the Senior Tour,” said Bossert. “And if I were able to win my first one at home, that would be fantastic.
“I’ve come to Bad Ragaz with high expectations of myself. I’m happy with the stable start I’ve made to the season, but still think I could improve a couple of things.
“I don’t think my putting has been up to standard, so I’ve had a look at that and made some changes. I’m really looking forward to this weekend. My caddie, Karl Young, has really helped me make a difference, and I have a lot more fun when he’s with me on the course.”
Despite his critical self-assessment, Bossert has made an encouraging start to the 2016 Senior Tour season, finishing fourth in the opening European event of the year, the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open, and following that with a tied eighth finish at the Acorn Jersey Open.
Sitting eighth in the Senior Tour Order of Merit Ranking after the first three events of the season, Bossert believes he is ready to secure his first Senior title.
“I’ve won at most levels and I feel as though my game is ready to do it,” he said. “You need a bit of luck and everything during those three rounds to go your way.
“I feel that is the way I’m playing at the moment. I’m making no major errors and I feel as though I’m slowly maturing and getting better each year. My final round at Bad Ragaz last year was a 61, which is my lowest round ever.
“It would be wonderful to pick up where I left off. It’s a course where we traditionally shoot low, and we could easily see a new Senior Tour record set this year.”
Defending champion Gordon Manson returns to Bad Ragaz on the back of a win at the Acorn Jersey Open earlier this month. The Austrian secured his second Senior Tour title with a dramatic play-off win over Gary Wolstenholme and the 1991 Masters Tournament champion Ian Woosnam.
“I’m going to go to Bad Ragaz bouncing,” said Manson. “I’m delighted with my win earlier this month, but I’ve worked hard towards it. It doesn’t happen for nothing.”
Making their Swiss Seniors Open debuts are the former Ryder Cup trio of Paul Broadhurst, David Gilford and Ronan Rafferty. They will be joined at Golf Club Bad Ragaz by fellow Ryder Cup stars including; Maurice Bembridge, who has played in every edition of the Swiss Seniors Open, Costantino Rocca, Des Smyth, Philip Walton and Ian Woosnam.
Mexico’s Esteban Toledo who won the PGA TOUR Champions’ Allianz Championship earlier this year, is one of three South Americans making an appearance at Golf Club Bad Ragaz, alongside Paraguayan Angel Franco and Argentinian Cesar Monasterio.
