1997 Senior British Open

Last updated

1997 Senior British Open
Tournament information
Dates24–27 July 1997
Location Portrush, County Antrim,
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
55°12′00″N6°38′06″W / 55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635
Course(s) Royal Portrush Golf Club
Dunluce Links
Organised by The R&A
Tour(s)
Format72 holes stroke play
Statistics
Par72
Length6,692 yd (6,119 m)
Field121 players, 71 after cut
Cut150 (+6)
Prize fund 352,665
Winner's share 81,662
Champion
Flag of South Africa.svg Gary Player
278 (−10)
Location Map
Europe relief laea location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Royal Portrush GC
Location in Europe
United Kingdom relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Royal Portrush GC
Location in the United Kingdom
Island of Ireland relief location map.png
Icona golf.svg
Royal Portrush GC
Location in Ireland
Relief Map of Northern Ireland.png
Icona golf.svg
Royal Portrush GC
Location in Northern Ireland
  1996
1998  

The 1997 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the 11th British Senior Open Championship, held from 24 to 27 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Contents

In 2018, the tournament was, as all Senior British Open Championships played 1987–2002, retroactively recognized as a senior major golf championship and a PGA Tour Champions (at the time named the Senior PGA Tour) event. [1] [2]

62-year-old Gary Player won in a playoff over John Bland to win his third Senior British Open title and ninth senior major championship victory. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Venue

The event was the third Senior Open Championship in a row held at Royal Portrush Golf Club. [7]

Royal Portrush GC 5th hole Royal Portrush Golf Club 5th hole.png
Royal Portrush GC 5th hole

Field

121 professionals, no amateurs, entered the competition. One of them withdrew and one was disqualified. 71 players made the 36-hole cut.

Past champions in the field

Seven past Senior British Open champions participated. Six of them made the 36-hole cut; 1988 and 1990 champion Gary Player (won), 1991 champion Bobby Verwey (tied 5th), 1994 champion Tom Wargo (tied 6th), 1992 champion John Fourie (tied 15th), 1987 champion Neil Coles (tied 24th) and 1989 and 1993 champion Bob Charles (tied 34th). 1995 and 1996 champion Brian Barnes withdraw after a first round 2-under-par 70.

Past winners and runners-up at The Open Championship in the field

The field included two former winners of The Open Championship. Both of them made the cut, 1959, 1968 and 1974 Open champion Gary Player (won) and 1963 Open champion Bob Charles (tied 34th).

The field also included three former runners-up at The Open Championship. Neil Coles (24th), Brian Huggett (tied 26th) and Christy O'Connor Snr (missed the cut).

Final round and playoff summaries

Final round

Sunday, 27 July 1997

Gary Player, South Africa and his fellow countryman John Bland tied the lead after the fourth round, to meet in a sudden death playoff, to decide the winner. Player scored a bogey-free 68 in the final round, to catch up Bland, who led by two strokes before the final round.

Noel Ratcliffe scored a bogey 5 on the 18th hole of the final round to came one shot short of joining the playoff.

PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ()
T1 Flag of South Africa.svg John Bland 66-72-70-70=278−10Playoff
Flag of South Africa.svg Gary Player 68-70-72-68=278
T3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Noel Ratcliffe 70-65-75-69=279−927,589
Flag of England.svg Jim Rhodes 69-71-71-68=279
5 Flag of South Africa.svg Bobby Verwey 71-70-72-68=281−720,776
T6 Flag of Spain.svg José María Cañizares 76-72-68-66=282−615,925
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Wargo 71-70-69-72=282
T8 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Eichelberger 68-71-75-69=283−511,613
Flag of the United States.svg Walter Hall 75-70-71-67=283
T10 Flag of England.svg Tommy Horton 71-72-72-70=285−39,408
Ulster Banner.svg Paul Leonard 72-70-74-69=285

Playoff

Sunday, 27 July 1997

The sudden-death playoff went on, to be played until one of the players had a lower score on the hole than the other. Gary Player beat John Bland with a birdie at the second extra hole, the par 5 17th hole, by holing a 15-foot putt.

PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ()
1 Flag of South Africa.svg Gary Player 5-4−181,662
2 Flag of South Africa.svg John Bland 5-5E54,390

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References

  1. "The Senior Open Championship". The R&A. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. "PGA Tour Champions recognizes Gary Player's Senior British Open wins as major titles". GNN Golf News Net. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  3. "Senior British Open Results". European Tour. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  4. "Player Keeps On Winning". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 28 July 1997. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  5. "International - Player captures Senior British Open". Golf World. 1 August 1997.
  6. "European Senior Tour". Svensk Golf. No. 10. September 1997. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  7. "Senior British Open – Course". European Tour. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
Preceded by Senior Major Championships Succeeded by

55°12′00″N6°38′06″W / 55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635