Nick Job will make history at the WINSTONgolf Senior Open, when he tees it up for the 307th time on the Staysure Tour, surpassing Denis O’Sullivan’s record of 306.
The Englishman will break the record on the over-50s circuit an astounding 20 years after making his debut in 1999.
This week you will make your 307th appearance on the Staysure Tour. Are you able to describe what that means to you?
It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve been able to continue playing for so long. I started in 1999 and to be able to play this long on the Staysure Tour is a great thing to do. It is a pleasure to be able to still play.
Over the last few years were you aware of Denis’ record? And did it become a goal to surpass it?
Absolutely, it did. The problem was that people kept on talking about it so there became pressure to play tournaments, but luckily, with how the categories changed I have been able to play more tournaments this year. But the hardest thing for me is beating my age all the time.
What has helped your longevity in getting to 307 appearances?
Sensible living, nothing too extreme.
You’ve won five times on the Staysure Tour, do any of those wins stick out in particular?
I’ve been very lucky to win five times on tour. The last one, winning wire-to-wire, playing alongside Carl Mason in the final round, leading from beginning to end. It was always something I wanted to do, to be able to prove that I could win after leading at the start of the tournament. That was the best thing about that win.
My first win was with Ed, my son, and he was caddying at the age of 15 for another guy but was there to watch me win, which was nice.
Can you remember what it was like during your first season in the senior ranks?
I started in July 1999, so I had a split year, and played my first tournament at Wentworth, where I didn’t do very well. I played on through that year and then went to Tour School during the winter and finished third. In those days the Tour School got you into every tournament because there were a lot of limited field tournaments, so I was very lucky in that respect. Then I won in my first full year in 2000.
Why did you join the Staysure Tour? And what were your initial thoughts?
I had left the European Tour in 1984 and eventually became a club professional at Richmond Golf Club, which saved our bones when we had two kids and no money. I started playing Staysure Tour to fund the shop and keep it going because business in pro shops is very tough. I started playing and the club were very positive about, which helped a lot.
Is there anything you wished you could have accomplished playing on the Staysure Tour?
I didn’t accomplish as much as I should’ve done on the European Tour, that was the problem. I had the chances to win and didn’t so that was a big disappointment.
Although I did make the Hennessy Cup, the opposite year to The Ryder Cup, but in those days The Ryder Cup wasn’t as big as it is now, but I would’ve loved to have played in that.
What’s it like to be playing at WINSTONgolf this week, competing against Bernhard Langer and José María Olazábal?
It’s a fabulous field and a fabulous place. WINSTONgolf is a great facility with great practise facilities and two wonderful courses. Mr Pon has supported our tour for nearly ten years, so it’s nice to be back here and playing this week.
