English Ryder Cup star Barry Lane is rested and ready to go as he looks to add to his six Staysure Tour titles when this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq gets underway on Thursday.
“It’s been a while since last year’s final event in Mauritius in December so I kept myself busy by heading over to America for three weeks in February to play some golf,” said Lane, who won last year’s Willow Senior Golf Classic.
“I escaped the cold weather in England and managed to qualify for the Chubb Classic on the US PGA Tour Champions and played well for the last two rounds there shooting 68-67. I literally played golf every day while I was in the States so when I came back to England I made sure I got plenty of rest before heading to Sharjah.”
Lane finished in a share of 29thplace last year and is determined to do better this week and make a winning start to his 2018 Staysure Tour campaign.
“It’s a lovely golf course and the facilities are fantastic,” said Lane. “Last year the course itself was in great condition and it was a really enjoyable week. I got off to a good start but gave some shots back on the back nine of the second day and fell out of contention. I’m looking forward to playing the course again and I hope to play better this time around.”
Lane, who played in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, is entering his ninth season on the Staysure Tour, and he’s still working on his game, striving to be the best he can be.
“I’ve been trying to work on a couple of different swing moves and it’s caused a little bit of an issue with my back – sadly I’m not 25 years old anymore,” he said. “But I’m always thinking about the game, even at 57. I’m always trying to improve. It’s an ongoing thing with me, trying to do some stretching work so my body can do what my brain wants it to do. That’s half the battle when you reach my age. The mind wants you to do it, but the body is saying ‘hang on, you’re not a young man anymore!’
“I’ve been consistent in finishing in the top ten on the Order of Merit most years and I certainly want to win at least once every year. But I’m getting older, and you’ve got to compete with the younger guys are coming through.
“I suppose with some of the guys, the older they get, the greater the chance that they might lose some motivation. But I don’t seem to have lost it yet. I turn 58 this year and I absolutely love the competitiveness and I miss it when I don’t have it.
“David MacLaren has the Tour moving in the right direction and I think he’s doing a fantastic job. It was a great move by Keith Pelley to put him in charge of the Tour. David has fresh eyes and a fresh mind. He’s put his life and soul into the Staysure Tour and it’s been an amazing success.”
His Excellency Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), sponsors and co-organisers of the event, said: “The success and popularity of last year’s event was spectacular and the subsequent interest in Sharjah’s superb golfing opportunities has reflected that.”
He added: “As a community which is constantly promoting a healthy lifestyle, the Staysure Tour is a perfect match for our fitness philosophy and with so many world-famous names here to compete in Sharjah we hope they will enjoy our world famous hospitality.”
Entry to this year’s Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq, is free of charge.
For more information contact the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Academy office,Tel: +9716 548 7777 e-mail:academy@golfandshootingshj.com
