Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam, three of European golf's big five from the 1980s and 1990s, will go head-to-head on the continent for the first time as senior players when they make their debuts in the 2008 Senior Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, from July 24 to 27.
The illustrious trio will all be looking to become the first European winner of the event since the turn of the millennium, after all three turned 50 in the past 12 months.
Germany's Langer, winner of the Masters in 1985 and 1993 and Ryder Cup-wi
nning captain in 2004, is currently challenging at the top of both the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit and the US Champions Tour money list.
"I like to win any tournament I enter but the senior Open championship would be a very nice thing to have alongside my name," he said.
"I will be trying very hard to have one Open title to my name, seeing as the Open championship itself eluded me.
"Royal Troon is a very good golf course, a demanding golf course, and you have to hit the ball well."
Two-time Major winner Sandy Lyle, like fellow competitor Tom Watson, is an Open champion.
He also won the Green Jacket at Augusta National in 1988, and the Scot has admitted he would dearly love to add a senior Open title to that crown on home soil.
"Troon is a good links golf course with strong holes," he said.
"I will have played plenty of links golf by the time I get there following Wales, Ireland and the Open Championship the week before so hopefully my game will be in good shape."
Welshman Woosnam, who won the Masters in 1991 and captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory in 2006, has made a superb start to his European Seniors Tour career after turning 50 in March and goes to Ayrshire as leader of the Order of Merit.
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The full article contains 337 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
