Wentworth Senior Masters
The Senior Masters Championship was played on the Edinburgh Course at Wentworth from 1997 through to 2007.
During this ten years the Wentworth Senior Masters managed, in that short time, to blossom into the flagship event on the European Seniors Tour.
Fittingly, the inaugural tournament in 1997 was won by co-designer of the Edinburgh course, Gary Player. The nine-time major champion shot impressive rounds of 69, 68, and 70 to take the title by a solitary stroke, and could barely contain his delight. “Now I’m in my 60’s,” he said, “I don’t know if I’ll ever win again – so, my God, don’t I enjoy it when I win now!”
The Wentworth Senior Masters went from strength to strength, with winners from all over the world including European Tour legend Neil Coles, Sam Torrance and Eduardo Romero. Ever-increasing galleries relished the slightly more relaxed atmosphere of a Seniors Tour event, marvelling at the well-preserved shot-making skills on display. And The Edinburgh course would always receive extensive praise for its superb playing conditions. Like a lot of the competitors, the tournament seemed to be improving with age! Irishman Des Smyth won here in 2007 and that was the last year the Championship was held at Wentworth.