Muirfield in Scotland has been announced as the venue for The 2007 Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, from July 26-29, 2007. It will be the first time the Championship has been staged on The Open Championship course and the move will coincide with the 50th birthday of Nick Faldo.
Faldo won two of his three Open titles at Muirfield – beating Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis by a stroke in 1987, before holding off John Cook five years later – and the Englishman is eligible to make his debut in the 2007 Senior version of the Championship as he turns 50 in the week prior to the event.
And with Seve Ballesteros reaching the same milestone in April 2007, Muirfield, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, looks set to welcome two of the all-time greats of European golf for the 21st edition of The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
The tournament, which is co-sanctioned between The R&A, the European Seniors Tour and the US Champions Tour, will complete a memorable two weeks on the East Coast of Scotland with The Open Championship being played the week before at Carnoustie.
David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A, said: "The R&A are delighted that The Senior British Open Championship will be played at Muirfield for the first time in 2007 and hope that many of the past Open Champions who have won there will return again and support the Championship."
Muirfield – the fourth Open venue to be used for the Seniors’ flagship event after Royal Portrush, Royal Lytham & St Annes and The Westin Turnberry Resort – has a rich history of producing great champions with the latest being Ernie Els, who beat Stuart Appleby, Steve Elkington and Thomas Levet in a sudden-death play-off at The Open in 2002.
Tom Watson, winner of 12 Majors including two Senior British Open Championships, also lifted the Claret Jug at the famous East Lothian links back in 1980 when he beat Lee Trevino by four shots. However, before the American can start thinking about his return to Muirfield he will be focused on defending The Senior British Open Championship at The Westin Turnberry Resort between July 27-30, 2006 – another course where he has enjoyed success.
Not only did Watson triumph over Jack Nicklaus to win the memorable ‘Duel in the Sun’ Open Championship in 1977, he also overcame a duel of a different nature at Turnberry in 2003, the last time The Senior British Open Championship was staged there, beating England’s Carl Mason at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off. He reclaimed the title at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in July with another play-off success, this time over Ireland’s Des Smyth at the third extra hole.
Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: "We witnessed a terrific tournament at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club and we are delighted to be involved as presenting sponsor of the next two Championships, at The Westin Turnberry Resort and Muirfield."
Contact:
European Tour Communications Division
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 840400
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 840444
Email: media@europeantour.com
David Hill
Director of Championships
The R&A
Tel: +44 (0) 1334 460000
Tom Maidment at WSM
Tele: +44 (0) 20 7993 2249
Email: tom.maidment@wsmsport.com
