Paul Broadhurst admits he is thrilled to be teeing it up this week at the US PGA Championship for the third time in his career, and first time in more than 12 years, alongside some of the best golfers in the world.
Broadhurst became a two-time Senior Major Championship winner after dominating on the final day of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May earlier this year, earning himself a spot at Bellerive Country Club in the 100thedition of the famous event.
The 1991 Ryder Cup player has seven victories since joining the over-50s ranks and after catching up with some old Tour friends this week, the 52 year old is excited by the opportunity of once more testing his game at another Major Championship.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a tough week,” he said. “I need to be at my best as it’s obviously going to play a bit long for me and the greens are soft with the rain around, but I’ll give it my best shot.
“It’s nice that they still remember me! It’s been seven years nearly since I played on the European Tour, so I have had a chat with Henrik (Stenson) this morning, bumped into Sergio (Garcia) and Rafa (Cabrera Bello), and obviously a few of the British guys, so it’s been good to catch up.
It’s up to me then to represent the Staysure Tour up against these young lads, so I’m looking forward to it.
"The Open last year we probably got the wrong side of the draw and ended up missing the cut by a couple, but you always enjoying playing in the Majors – I haven’t played that many over the years – so it will be a special week and hopefully I can do the guys proud.”
Broadhurst currently leads the Staysure Tour Order of Merit, and with form on the Englishman’s side this season, he is confident of putting in a good showing in St Louis but also realistic of what would constitute a good week.
“It would be great to make the cut, but I have to look a little bit further than that. I’ve got to play my own game and if I play well then who knows what might happen. I’m playing pretty good tee to green but my putting is really streaky at the moment. When I get the putter hot it’s really good and I have days when I hole absolutely nothing, so that is key really how I putt nowadays.
“It’s hard enough to win on the Champions and Staysure Tours, then to come out here and win against the top 111 players in the world, so it may be asking a bit too much, but like I said I’ll give it my best shot.”
