Phillip Price only started playing on the Staysure Tour at the end of 2016, when he turned 50 years old, and last season showcased all his skills and expertise as he finished second on the Order of Merit.
The Welshman made his debut on the over-50s circuit on his 50thbirthday at the 2016 Senior Italian Open, only 27 months ago, and he has already made a big impression on the tour. A similar impression to the one he made in The 2002 Ryder Cup as he memorably beat Phil Mickelson 3&2 in the Sunday singles to help Europe win back The Ryder Cup.
His rookie Ryder Cup triumph at the Belfry 17 years ago is arguably the stand-out moment of his career, which also includes three victories on the European Tour – two in Portugal – plus the European Open in Ireland in 2003. However, he has not needed to worry about the transition into senior golf.
Halfway through the 2017 season, in only his fifth Staysure Tour appearance, Price sealed his first over-50s victory at the WINSTONgolf Senior Open in Germany. It had only taken him nine months since he teed off his senior career to become part of the winners’ circle and the future looked very bright.
After splitting his time between the Staysure Tour and the PGA Tour Champions he ended the year 12thplace on the Order of Merit. Home was where the heart was for the Welshman and it showed over the next 12 months.
If you want to challenge for the number one spot on the Order of Merit you need a quick start to the season, and Price did not hang around in the opening events of 2018.
The last time the Pontypridd man played in the United Arab Emirates was at the 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, finishing tied 32nd. So it made for a nice return for the first time in five years when he claimed seventh place at the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq.
In his third Senior Major championship, battling against several golfing legends at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, Price took a share of eighth place for a second successive Senior Major top ten finish after his tied sixth result at The Senior Open Presented by Rolex on home soil at Royal Porthcawl in 2017
His $73,801.81 cheque saw him leap into the top five on the Order of Merit where he stayed for the remainder of the 2018 season.
He marked his return to the Senior Italian Open with a third-place finish and continued his blistering start to the campaign in Switzerland, where he took second place alongside Miguel Angel Martin and Jarmo Sandelin. It was his second successive top five finish and his fourth top ten result in five events. Paul Broadhurst may well have been leading the Staysure Tour Order of Merit, but Price was arguable the most consistent player.
The 2002 Ryder Cup star recorded his first result of the year outside the top 20 as he finished tied 32ndat The Senior Open Presented by Rolex. He may not have played his best golf that week, but he was back challenging at the top of the leaderboard when he teed it up at London Golf Club just four days later.
Rounds of 72-68-67-68 for a 13 under par total – his lowest 72-hole score of the year – saw him take a share of ninth at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship for his fifth top ten finish of the season. His second runner-up result came in Russia, which tightened his grip on the top five places in the Rankings.
The Welshman was enjoying his best season on the Staysure Tour and would go on to become the first player to finish second on the Order of Merit without a win, since Chris Williams recorded the feat in 2011.
Visits to Hanbury Manor and Woburn kept him inside the leading five on the Order of Merit, remaining on course for his highest finish on the over-50s circuit.
Price has been able to grind out impressive rounds all season and none more so at the Scottish Senior Open, where he was one of just eight players on a blustery final day to shoot under par, seeing him take a share of third place.
A tied 22ndfinish at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters and a share of 14thin Paris were the battery-saving moments in a long season for Price, before he finished like a steam train at the season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius and Seychelles.
After starting the year so impressively, the Welshman was determined to finish with a flourish in the Indian Ocean sunshine, and he certainly did not disappoint.
His eighth top ten result of the campaign came with a tied fourth place finish in Mauritius, before he jetted off to Seychelles where he turned on the afterburners. A final round of 63 saw him force a play-off, but his second Staysure Tour win would have to wait as Roger Chapman clinched the title with a stunning eagle putt on the first extra hole.
A season dominated by top ten finishes, including three runner-up places, Price will be hoping to go one better when the action returns in 2019.
