By Sarah Gwynn, europeantour.com
Welshman Ian Woosnam is aiming for more success in Russia when he heads to this week’s Russian Open Golf Championship (Senior).
The 55 year old tasted victory the last time the Senior Tour played in Russia, winning the 2008 Russian Senior Open at Pestovo Golf and Yacht Club – the second of his four titles since turning 50 – and wants to repeat the performance at Moscow Country Club.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a country where I’ve had success in the past, so for that reason you always look forward to going back. I’m sure all the members of the course are looking forward to us going over there and hopefully we can put on a good show for them and have some fun.
“One thing the Russians do well is the entertainment, so I’m sure there’ll be a good party on the Saturday night where we can enjoy ourselves and socialise with all the members there.”
Woosnam is hopeful he can continue the fine form which earned him an 11th place finish in last week’s WINSTONgolf Senior Open, where he shared the lead after a first round 65.
“I had two good rounds in Germany, the first and the third,” he said. “I’m delighted with the way I drove the ball with my new driver, so there are plenty of positives to take with me to Russia.”
Colin Montgomerie is back in Senior Tour action a fortnight after he claimed his maiden title in the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters, while Englishmen Barry Lane, Paul Wesselingh and Carl Mason, Swede Anders Forsbrand and Australian Peter Fowler are also in the strong field.
Gordon Brand Jnr, last week’s winner in Germany, will also contest the US$850,000, having rediscovered his best form after 18 months of “absolute rubbish”.
“It was fantastic to win last week and I’m looking forward to trying to keep up this form,” said the Scot. “I played so well all week, so hopefully it’s a case of same again in Russia.”
Brand Jnr’s compatriot Andrew Oldcorn, who shot a final round 61 to take a share of second place, is also in the field.
Moscow Country Club, which is located in the town of Nakhabino around 30km north-west of Moscow, became Russia’s first 18-hole golf course when it opened in 1994.
It was the venue for the Russian Open on The European Tour from 2003-2008 and the course, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, and the clubhouse recently underwent a major renovation.
