Steen Tinning will launch his defence of the English Senior Open alongside the European Senior Tour’s most recent first-time winner, Mark Davis and England’s Barry Lane when play gets under way at Rockliffe Hall on Friday.
Denmark’s Tinning, who birdied two of the last three holes to win his second title of the season in what was a thrilling conclusion in 2013, will tee it up from 1000 with five-time European Tour winner Lane and his compatriot Davis, who won his maiden title in just his third start on the Senior Tour at last week’s SSE Scottish Senior Open.
In the following group, reigning Senior Tour Number One Paul Wesselingh has former Ryder Cup captain Mark James and Spaniard Santiago Luna for company.
The Madrid man very nearly took the spoils in 2013 before Tinning’s closing heroics and will retain fond memories and strong hopes of going one better than his runner-up spot this week.
At 1110, former European Number One Ronan Rafferty starts alongside former Ryder Cup great and three-time John Jacobs Trophy winner Sam Torrance and 25-time Senior Tour champion Carl Mason, who has won three previous English Senior Open titles.
Meanwhile, at 1130, another of Paul McGinley’s vice captains for the upcoming Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Des Smyth, plays with Australia’s Terry Price and England’s Chris Williams.
Earlier on Friday morning, at 0940, former Masters Tournament winner Ian Woosnam tees it up with Cesar Monasterio, who equalled the lowest score in Senior Tour history with a first-round 61 last week at Fairmont St Andrews, and England’s Jamie Spence.
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