1988 Seniors' British Open

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1988 Seniors' British Open
Tournament information
Dates21–24 July 1988
Location South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
55°18′58″N4°49′59″W / 55.316°N 4.833°W / 55.316; -4.833
Course(s) Turnberry (Aisla Course)
Organised by The R&A
Tour(s) Senior PGA Tour
Format72 holes stroke play
Statistics
Par70
Length6,480 yd (5,930 m)
Prize fund £150,000
Winner's share £25,000
Champion
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Gary Player
272 (−8)
Location Map
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Icona golf.svg
Turnberry
Location in Europe
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Icona golf.svg
Turnberry
Location in the United Kingdom
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Turnberry
Location in Scotland
  1987
1989  

The 1988 Seniors' British Open, for sponsorship reasons also known as the Volvo Seniors' British Open, was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the second Seniors' British Open (later known as the Senior Open Championship), held from 21 to 24 July at Turnberry Golf Resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. [1] [2] [3]

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. [4] [5] [6]

52-year-old Gary Player lead wire-to-wire and won by one stroke ahead of Billy Casper.

It was Player's first Senior Open Championship win and fifth senior major championship. With the win, he became the first golfer to complete the senior grand slam of the time, by adding the title to wins in the U.S. Senior Open, the PGA Seniors' Championship and the Senior Tournament Players Championship. [4] The year after, The Tradition tournament was established and also recognized as a senior major by the PGA Tour Champions.

Defending champion Neil Coles finished tied 6th, after a score of 9-over-par 79 in the fourth round in strong winds, playing in the last group with Player. [3]

A £2,000 bonus prize was awarded to Christy O'Connor Snr, as the leading player over 60 years of age, at tied 9th. [3]

Leading amateur was Colin McLachlan, Scotland. [3]

Venue

The 10th and 12th holes on the Ailsa course Turnberry (Ailsa course) Holes 10 and 12.jpg
The 10th and 12th holes on the Ailsa course

The Ailsa Course at Turnberry, situated 80 kilometres south of Glasgow, Scotland, on headland along the Firth of Clyde, overlooking the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig, was initially opened with 13 holes in 1901, designed by Willie Fernie, and later completed to 18 holes. It was redesigned by Mackenzie Ross between 1949 and 1951.

The championship was the second of four in a row played at Turnberry.

The course had previously hosted The Open Championship twice; 1977 and 1986. [7]

Field

Past champion in the field

The only past Senior British Open champion, 1987 winner Neil Coles, participated and finished tied 6th.

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

The field included former winners of The Open Championship; Gary Player (won), Bob Charles (4th) and Arnold Palmer (tied 6th) and former runners-up at The Open Championship; Neil Coles (6th), Christy O'Connor Snr (9th) and Lu Liang-Huan (tied 14th).

Final results

Sunday, 24 July 1988

PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney (£)
1 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Gary Player 65-66-72-69=272−825,000
2 Flag of the United States.svg Billy Casper 68-65-72-68=273−716,400
3 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Harold Henning 70-68-68-68=274−69,150
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bob Charles 70-69-68-70=277−37,350
5 Flag of the United States.svg Jim O'Hern 70-70-68-73=281+16,150
T6 Flag of England.svg Neil Coles 70-65-69-79=283+34,720
Flag of the United States.svg Arnold Palmer 69-70-73-71=283
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Devlin 69-70-76-69=284+43,610
T9 Flag of Ireland.svg Christy O'Connor Snr 70-73-71-72=286+63,058
Flag of Scotland.svg George Will 70-73-73-70=286

Source: [3]

Related Research Articles

Neil Chapman Coles, MBE is an English professional golfer. Coles had a successful career in European golf, winning 29 important tournaments between 1956 and 1982. After reaching 50, he won a further 14 important Seniors tournaments between 1985 and 2002, winning his final European Seniors Tour event at the age of 67. He also played in eight Ryder Cup matches between 1961 and 1977.

Brian J. Waites is an English professional golfer. Although he turned professional in 1957, he played little top-level golf for the next 20 years, but then has considerable success, winning twice on the European Tour, five times on the Safari Circuit and playing in the 1983 Ryder Cup. After reaching 50 he had further success as a senior, winning the PGA Seniors Championship twice, and winning four times on the European Senior Tour.

Patrick Christopher "Christy" O'Connor was an Irish professional golfer. He was one of the leading golfers on the British and Irish circuit from the mid-1950s.

Malcolm Edward Gregson was an English professional golfer. After a promising start to his career as an amateur and assistant professional, he had one exceptional year, 1967, when he won the Harry Vardon Trophy and played in the Ryder Cup, but had only limited success afterwards. After reaching 50 he played on the European Senior Tour, winning five times.

The 1964 Open Championship was the 93rd Open Championship, played 8–10 July at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland. Tony Lema won his only major championship, five strokes ahead of runner-up Jack Nicklaus. He led by seven strokes after 54 holes and shot a final round 70. Neither had played the Old Course before and Lema had never played in Britain; he gave much of the credit for his victory to his caddy, Tip Anderson. It was Lema's fourth victory in six weeks; he won three events on the PGA Tour in June. Nicklaus equaled the course record with a 66 in the third round.

Lionel Platts was an English professional golfer. He finished 7th in the PGA Order of Merit in both 1964 and 1965. He played in the 1965 Ryder Cup.

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The 2012 Senior Open Championship was a senior major golf championship and the 26th Senior Open Championship, held on 26–29 July at Turnberry Golf Resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. It was the 10th Senior Open Championship played as a senior major championship.

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The 1989 Seniors' British Open, for sponsorship reasons also known as the Volvo Seniors' British Open, was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the third Seniors' British Open, held from 27 to 30 July at Turnberry Golf Resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.

The 1990 Seniors' British Open, for sponsorship reasons also known as the Volvo Seniors' British Open, was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the fourth Seniors' British Open, held from 26 to 29 July at Turnberry Golf Resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.

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References

  1. Jacobs, Raymond (22 July 1988). "Player masters Ailsa with seven birdies". The Glasgow Herald. p. 34. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  2. Jacobs, Raymond (23 July 1988). "Player adds 66 but still cannot shake off his senior rivals". The Glasgow Herald. p. 24. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Jacobs, Raymond (25 July 1988). "Vintage Player lands a second slam - Solid closing par finally kills a late Casper challenge". The Glasgow Herald. p. 7. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 "The Senior Open Championship". The R&A. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. "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.
  6. "PGA Tour Champions, Tournament Schedule, 1988 Schedule, The Senior Open". PGA Tour. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  7. "Tournament History". Trump Turnberry. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
Preceded by Senior Major Championships Succeeded by