Sam Torrance is delighted that his peers approve of his design work at the Fairmont St Andrews but hopes they don’t enjoy it too much as he seeks to recapture the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Seniors Open title this weekend on the course that bears his name.
The Scot would dearly love to win back the title on “The Torrance” the venue which first hosted the Senior Open in highly acclaimed style last year and also won the approval of the R&A for Open Championship final qualifying last month.
To win he has to find the form that took him to his third Seniors Order of Merit title last year, having avoided the injury problems that stalled his campaign to win his home nation crown a year ago. Lying 14th this year, he needs a good showing to jump-start a late run.
“This is a very special week for me we are literally playing on my golf course,” he said. “I designed it, I am attached here and I really love this place, so a very important week for me.
“It’s been nice to hear most of the guys being very complimentary about a course that I have designed. It’s nice to hear things like that from the guys you play with every week I hope they enjoy the test.
“The greens here are exceptional and are one of the strong points of my design.”
Sam was encouraged by his 69 to open the Senior Open at Carnoustie three weeks ago but lost his way and never challenged winner Bernhard Langer as he had hoped.
“I have been struggling for form for a while but it’s getting a bit better,” he said. “I did a fair bit of work with my dad at the Senior Open which worked for the first day but then I couldn’t sustain it. But I have been working hard every day and on the phone to him most days and it is coming along.
“I can still win the Order of Merit, there are a lot of big weeks coming up but I have to win a couple and contend in the rest if I am to have any chance.”
Torrance’s friend and perennial rival Ian Woosnam had a strong outing at Carnoustie and is delighted to be back in the east and on links.
“That was actually my last appearance three weeks ago at the Senior Open Championship and there were some good signs that the game is coming round,” said the Welshman.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there and continuing the improvement.
“You obviously have to shape the ball playing links golf and I actually have a new set of clubs in the bag this week that I have a bit more feel with, so hopefully I can get the ball going the way I want it to.”
Englishman Glenn Ralph defends his maiden title won on a windy and wet final day last year, and got the most backhanded of compliments from Torrance.
“Sam came up to me at the end and said, ‘Why has it taken you so long?’ ” said the 54-year-old. “Des Smyth said the same thing; everyone thought I was good enough to win but you have to do it.”
Ralph and Torrance play together this afternoon just ahead of other Scots contenders Bill Longmuir, the best Scottish finisher at Carnoustie, and Andrew Oldcorn, playing in his first Scottish Seniors.