Englishman Paul Wesselingh will hope a return to the stunning backdrop of the Swiss Alps can kick-start his bid to retain the John Jacobs Trophy when he defends his title in this week’s Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open.
The reigning European Senior Tour Number One captured the second of his four victories in the 2013 season at Golf Club Bad Ragaz, holing a 25ft birdie putt on the third extra hole to defeat compatriot Kevin Spurgeon in a play-off, after the pair both finished on nine under par 201.
Wesselingh has made a relatively slow start to the new campaign by his high standards, missing the cut in the US Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid in May and tying for 31stposition in his defence of the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship last month.
The 52 year old has an impressive record at Golf Club Bad Ragaz, finishing tied eighth in his rookie campaign in 2012 before carding rounds of 71, 66 and 64 to triumph 12 months ago.
He is joined in the field by Spaniard Santiago Luna, who claimed his second Senior Tour title in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at The Stoke-by-Nayland Club in England.
Also returning to Switzerland are Denmark’s Steen Tinning, the runner-up in the 2013 Senior Tour Order of Merit who finished second behind Luna last month, and former Masters Champion Ian Woosnam, who finished third in the 2012 Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open.
New Zealander Bob Charles, the 1963 Open Champion and a two-time Senior Open Champion, also makes a rare appearance at a venue where he has enjoyed some magnificent moments over the years.
The 78 year old opened with a four under par round of 66 in 2012 – an incredible ten shots under his age at the time of the event.
Low scoring has been a feature of the tournament and the dramatic vistas have inspired some notable performances over the years, with Juan Quiros (2006), Carl Mason (2008) and Angel Fernandez (2011) sharing the course record of 61 at the 6,183 yard, par 70 course, Mason’s being achieved en route to the second of his three triumphs.
The Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open also holds the record as the longest standing host venue on the Senior Tour, with this week’s tournament marking the 18th consecutive edition at Golf Club Bad Ragaz.
