After missing last season’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship through injury, former champion Roger Chapman is raring to go as the Championship returns to Oak Hill Country Club for the first time in 11 years.
The 60-year-old became the first Englishman to win the Championship in 2012, and then went on to become the first European to win both the KitchenAid Senior PGA and U.S. Senior Open in the same season, also securing the John Jacobs Trophy for topping the Order of Merit.
After an issue in his right shoulder, Chapman opted in May 2018 to undergo a subacromial decompression to treat the injury. He made his return to action at the Senior Open Presented by Rolex at St Andrews in July and finished the season in style with victory at the MCB Tour Championship-Seychelles.
“It’s very nice to be back at this event,” said Chapman. “One year ago today I had the operation. I maybe came back a little bit quick, but it was the Senior Open at St Andrews and you never know if you’ll play there again competitively.
“It was terrible to miss last year, but I had to make a decision – I think I made the right one. I turned 60 a couple of weeks ago, it’s creeping up quick.
“Seychelles was really good, but I was also really proud of what I did the week before to actually get into the event. I had to finish a minimum of top five to make it in, and I went on to finish third and then the victory happened. I had a great end to the season, tenth, third and then the victory. You kind of wish the season carried on – but it was nice to have a break and I’m raring to go now.
The victory in Seychelles was Chapman’s first since his historic win at Indianwood Golf & Country Club where he also became just the second European to win the U.S. Senior Open.
“It was a long time since the last win,” he added. “You do start to wonder where you next will come when you get to that stage. I was the oldest winner on the Tour last year, so that was another milestone.
“The fields in both Mauritius and Seychelles were great, so it was very satisfying to play well in those two weeks.
“I have reassessed a little since then. I do have some personal goals and if I can get five more seasons on the Staysure Tour, I’ll be very happy.”
