Defending John Jacobs Trophy champion Peter Fowler believes his game is right to overcome some early season rustiness at the Benahavis Senior Masters at La Quinta Golf and Country Club, in the Benahavis region of Southern Spain.
Fowler’s incredible consistency in 2011, paired with two wins, earned him the title as the European Senior Tour’s Order of Merit Number One last season and the defence of that title got off to a steady start with a top 20 finish at the Mallorca Open Senior two weeks ago.
He followed that up with a mixed bag at the US Senior PGA Championship last week, where he finished 67th, but he is hoping that familiarity with La Quinta Golf and Country Club will reap rewards this week.
“I was 16th in Mallorca and I was close but my game wasn’t right,” said the Australian, who finished outside the top 10 only five times in 18 appearances last season. “At the US Senior PGA Championship I played some good golf but I played some horrible golf and made some mistakes. I got off to a bad start and I was just chasing the whole time.
“I feel pretty good. I played pretty well here last season and I know the course well even though it’s a bit different this year. The greens are much softer, and bumpier so it’ll be tricky on the greens this week.
“I know the course well so hopefully that helps but I'm fairly happy with my game right now.”
With the world’s newest Major winner, US Senior PGA Champion Roger Chapman amongst the ranks this week alongside 26 of the Top 30 from last year’s Order of Merit, it is a strong field that will battle it out for the increased prize fund of €200,000.
Chapman’s win last week has handed him a huge lead in the Order of Merit this year but Fowler is hopeful of challenging the Englishman for the number one spot, starting with a win this week.
“There’s not much different in terms of my approach this year,” said the 52 year old. “I'm just going to work on my game and hopefully it’ll turn out good. It’s going to be difficult to retain the Order of Merit now with Roger so far ahead but it’s only just started so I just need to get the ball rolling.
“I played pretty consistently last year and I drove the ball well which is important to do to win tournaments. You have to putt well too if you’re going to win. I haven’t played a lot at the start of the year with a couple of injury problems from the end of last season but hopefully I’ll be able to get going. It goes without saying that I want to get a few more wins on the board this season.”
Fowler will be among a strong Senior Tour field competing for an increased prize fund of €200,000 – a rise of €20,000 from 2011 – for the fourth edition of the tournament on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
The field includes 26 of the top 30 players from last year’s Senior Tour Order of Merit, including two-time Benahavis Senior Masters champion Carl Mason, former Ryder Cup Captain Mark James.
