A trio of former Ryder Cup stars will be hoping to add to their trophy cabinets as they prepare to make their Swiss Seniors Open debuts at Golf Club Bad Ragaz.
Paul Broadhurst, David Gilford and former European Tour Order of Merit winner Ronan Rafferty will encounter the picturesque venue in the Swiss Alps for the first time this week after impressive starts to the 2016 European Senior Tour season.
After winning his debut event, the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open, in 2015, Broadhurst has recorded four top ten finishing in six events since lifting the title at Archerfield.
The Englishman, who played in The 1991 Ryder Cup, produced a good performance at the US Senior PGA Championship for a tied 31st finish, followed by a runner-up finish at the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open the following week.
Broadhurst then finished tied eighth at the Acorn Jersey Open, where he carded rounds of 69-68-74 to finish five under par.
He is one of just four European Ryder Cup players in history to have a 100 per cent win percentage, having won both his singles matches at Kiawah Island in the Ryder Cup.
Gilford, who made two Ryder Cup appearances in 1991 and 1995, has played in three events since turning 50 last year, becoming eligible for the European Senior Tour.
His best finish so far came at the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open where he finished third behind Broadhurst and winner Zhang Lianwei. He carded a stunning final round 64, which included five birdies and an eagle on the front nine alone to move into contention at eight under par.
He was one of three European players to secure three points at the 1995 Ryder Cup, when Europe successfully won the biannual competition for just the second time on American soil. Gilford’s teammate Philip Walton, also playing in Switzerland this week, secured victory for Europe after defeating Jay Haas by one hole.
Rafferty, a seven-time European Tour winner, will tee off at Bad Ragaz in search of his maiden Senior Tour title. The Northern Irishman’s tied fifth finish at the 2014 Dutch Senior Open is currently his best result on the Senior Tour, a event when he finished behind winner and former Ryder Cup teammate Ian Woosnam, who this week is making his fourth appearance in the Swiss Senior Open.
He secured a valuable point for Europe in the 1989 Ryder Cup during Sunday’s singles matches at The Belfry, as Europe and the United States tied 14-14 with Rafferty and his teammates retaining the prestigious trophy.
