With just two tournaments of the 2016 European Senior Tour season left to play, the race is hotting up for the top six golfers who will receive exemptions for the 2017 US Senior Open, the third Senior Major Championship.
The top six on the Senior Tour Order of Merit will be eligible to play at Salem Country Club, Massachusetts next year, and with a €52,500 first prize up for grabs at the Italian Senior Open, and a €72,000 first prize available at the MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius, there is still all to play for.
Englishman Paul Broadhurst will be confirmed as John Jacobs Trophy winner after the completion of the Italian Senior Open, as the 2016 Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex winner has built an unassailable lead at the top of the Rankings.
However, as a winner of the Senior Open and of the Nature Valley First Tee Open last month, Broadhurst will be exempt, freeing up one spot for another European Senior Tour member.
A good result in Italy for Sweden’s Magnus P Atlevi will all but guarantee him a second-place finish on the Order of Merit, after he became the Senior Tour’s most recent winner with victory at the Paris Legends Championship at Le Golf National, host venue for The 2018 Ryder Cup.
Peter Fowler, André Bossert, Philip Golding and Tim Thelen are all also in pursuit, with both Bossert and Thelen securing victories earlier this season.
Fowler and Golding, although not winners so far this season, make up the top six after their consistent performances throughout 2016.
As winner of the 2015 Insperity Invitational on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit, Ian Woosnam, who is currently eighth on the Senior Tour Order of Merit, is likely to be exempt, which will hand the final place to Willow Senior Golf Classic champion Gary Marks.
Marks who has €94,460 in prize money has a lead of more than €5,000 from Gordon Manson and Mike Harwood, and four further golfers have more than €80,000 in winnings so far this season.
With €800,000 still to play for on the Senior Tour, competition will be fierce in the closing events of the 2016 season.
