Santiago Luna will be hoping a return to the ‘Home of Golf’ can inspire him to a successful defence of this week’s SSE Scottish Senior Open and a second title of the 2014 season.
The Spaniard, who claimed his second European Senior Tour win at the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship in June, captured a memorable maiden victory last year at the stunning Fairmont St Andrews, which this week hosts the prestigious tournament for a sixth successive year.
Former European Tour winner Luna made a fast start to his Senior Tour career in 2013, snatching a dramatic victory across the Torrance Championship Course in just his sixth appearance, when the 51 year old Madrid native held off a stirring challenge from home favourite and course designer Sam Torrance.
On a frantic final day last August, in which the lead changed hand several times, Luna claimed a one-shot victory over former Ryder Cup captain Torrance and Irishman Denis O’Sullivan to secure more glory in St Andrews – 15 years after defeating Tiger Woods in the semi-final of the 1998 Alfred Dunhill Cup in the golfing mecca.
Englishman Barry Lane, who won the Scottish Senior Open in back-to-back years from 2010, is also in the field this week at the magnificent coastal venue, looking to make it a hat-trick of wins at Fairmont St Andrews two weeks after claiming a share of third place at The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl.
Former European Number One Ronan Rafferty will also make his fourth Senior Tour appearance as the 50 year old Northern Irish rookie looks to make a successful transition into the Senior ranks and continue a glittering career in which he captured seven European Tour victories.
Canada’s Rick Gibson prevailed to seize his first Senior Tour title at the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open last month – an impressive performance he followed up in style with a tied third finish at The Senior Open Championship – and the man currently ranked fourth in the Senior Tour Order of Merit will be looking to make it a 2014 double this week at Fairmont St Andrews.
Also returning to Scotland are Denmark’s Steen Tinning, the runner-up in the 2013 money-list and last year’s Rookie of the Year, plus 2013 Senior Tour Number One Paul Wesselingh, who is seeking a kick-start to his John Jacobs Trophy defence following a relatively slow start this season.
They are joined by Masters Tournament winner Ian Woosnam, who also has the company of fellow former Ryder Cup captains Mark James and the aforementioned Torrance.
This week’s will be the 22nd edition of the SSE Scottish Senior Open, which was first won by England’s Tommy Horton in 1993.
Meanwhile, there are six other former winners in the field as Glenn Ralph (2009), Nick Job (2005), Bill Longmuir (2004), Denis Durnian (2002), Noel Ratcliffe (2000) and Antonio Garrido (1994) all make the trip back to Scotland for what promises to be an enthralling week.
