Peter Fowler’s dramatic victory in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open has significantly boosted his European Senior Tour Order of Merit aspirations, as he looks to become only the third Australian to win the John Jacobs Trophy.
Fowler overturned a seven shot deficit in Switzerland to capture his second victory of the 2011 campaign, after landing a maiden Senior Tour title in the ISPS Handa Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum at the start of June.
The 52 year old, who has three other top three finishes so far this season, has earned €166,685 in prize money and is currently second behind Tom Watson on the Order of Merit.
With Honorary Member Watson, the US Senior PGA Champion, unlikely to fulfil the requirement of playing in five Senior Tour events, Fowler is in pole position to become the first Australian since Ian Stanley in 2001 to win the Order of Merit.
Fowler’s highest Order of Merit finish in 25 years on The European Tour was 22nd in 1989, four years before he won the BMW International Open.
With the Senior Tour season just past the halfway mark, Fowler is €4,344 clear of his nearest rival Andrew Oldcorn, the Scotsman who has been equally consistent in earning €162,341, recording top ten finishes in all but two of his nine appearances in 2011.
Oldcorn finished 26th on The European Tour Order of Merit in 2001 after winning the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club and, having won The De Vere Club PGA Seniors Championship last month, he is hoping to capture his first Order of Merit.
Ian Woosnam, the former World Number One and Masters Champion, is fourth on the Senior Tour Order of Merit with €126,722 after winning the Berenberg Bank Masters last month. The 2006 Ryder Cup Captain is the only former Harry Vardon Trophy winner of The European Tour to complete the double by also winning the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
Another former Green Jacket winner, Sandy Lyle, is in fifth place with €110,156, having won the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship presented by Mission Hills China.
