Steen Tinning is targeting a trio of titles at this week’s MCB Tour Championship, with the Dane hoping that victory in the €400,000 event in Mauritius will lead to him also winning the European Senior Tour Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year Award.
Tinning trails Paul Wesselingh by €47,936 in the battle to be crowned Senior Tour Number One and therefore needs to claim the first prize of €62,814 to stand any chance of lifting the John Jacobs Trophy.
He would then have to rely on Wesselingh finishing outside of the top seven, but despite the odds being against him, Tinning remains optimistic about his chances of landing all three on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a big week for me,” he said. “Paul and I have both had great seasons. It’s been a great golfing year for me and when you have that, you have to be happy. There are some many down times in this game so you have to appreciate it and be happy. But obviously I would love to win the Order of Merit.
“I believe that whatever happens this week happens. There are some great players in this field – you have Monty and David Frost and Roger Chapman – so you can’t force it.
“With this course you cannot attack it too much. If you do, you will burn your fingers. I just have to play my own game. If I get in a position on Sunday where I have the chance to win the tournament, then brilliant. I would love to do that and see if I can pull it off. In my mind though it’s just a matter of playing this golf course.”
After nearly a decade away from the game, Tinning made his Senior Tour debut at Constance Belle Mare Plage 12 months ago, finishing in a share of 17th position. The foundations he laid with that performances helped pave the way for a superb 2013 campaign in which he won twice, first at the Berenberg Masters in Germany followed by the English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall.
As he returns to Mauritius, Tinning admits he is still coming to terms with everything he has achieved over the past year.
“I’m coming in with a different mind-set this year,” said Tinning, who is drawn alongside Wesselingh for the first round at 12.50pm on Friday. “I’m more relaxed, but I also have things to prove. If you have an opportunity to win the Order of Merit, you have to try to take it. I’d like to win the Rookie of the Year award too.
“I’ve just got to relax and play as well as I can. It will be fun to play with Paul on Friday. It’s the first time we have played together. We are great friends and have a good relationship, so there will be no hard feelings. It’s just a matter of two guys who have had very successful years, and one will end up on top at the end of it. I’ll play my hardest and try to enjoy it and see if I can get a chance to win on Sunday.
“After being away from the game for so many years, when I played here 12 months ago I did not know what shape I would be in. I finished 17th last year, shooting two under par, and felt like I walked away with a lot of confidence. So to come back to Mauritius with a chance of winning the Order of Merit is unreal.”
