From July 21-24, over 30 Major Champions will compete for the 2016 Senior Open Championship on the legendary Carnoustie Championship course, jewel in the crown of Carnoustie Country’s 34 courses.
Golfing greats such as Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie will be battling to win the 2016 Senior Open Championship Presented By Rolex. And although the competitors will be the world’s top Senior golfers, they’ll be pitting their exceptional golfing skills against a course which is widely considered one of the most challenging in the world.
“Carnoustie Championship rates maybe the highest in difficulty,” said Tom Watson, who won the 1975 Open on this course. “There’s so much variety, there are the narrowest fairways in Open golf and it forces you to play through the bunkers. You have to really drive the ball well here.”
Colin Montgomerie agrees with Tom Watson. “Carnoustie is by far the best and hardest test of golf on the Open Championship rota,” he said. “The course is always in superb condition and is a wonderful celebration of golf.”
Having won the Senior Open Championship when it was at Carnoustie Championship in 2010, and made a stunning comeback at Augusta National earlier this year, Bernhard Langer is one of the favourites for the 2016 Senior Open Championship – and he’s another of the course’s superstar fans.
“Carnoustie is a classic links course,” said Bernhard. “There is always some kind of wind blowing and it’s one of the toughest finishes anywhere in the game of golf. You never know what is going to happen over that stretch.”
Jean Van de Velde is one golfer who would agree with that sentiment entirely, having lost a three shot lead in the final hole of The Open when it was held at Carnoustie in 1999. “It’s part of history – and part of my life as a golfer,” said a very philosophical Jean Van de Velde, who will be making his Senior debut.
“Carnoustie is a fantastic course and one of the toughest out there,” he continued. “There is so much Carnoustie demands of your game and your mental strength.”
Competitors in the Senior Open Championship must be 50 or over on July 21, 2016 – and although 114 of the places are allocated before the Championship begins, the qualifying event on Monday, July 18, provides an opportunity for non-exempt senior golfers to play for one of 30 places in the tournament.
This year, the qualifying event will be held on four highly-regarded Carnoustie Country courses: Downfield, Monifieth, Montrose and Panmure. The 30 qualifiers will then be part of a field which includes last year’s winner Marco Dawson, former Open Champion John Daly, Fred Couples and a host of Major Champions and Ryder Cup stars.
Excellent facilities are available for spectators at Carnoustie Championship, both at the grandstand area overlooking the 18th green and around the course. And with 33 golf courses within easy driving distance of Carnoustie Championship, after watching golfing greats compete against each other, golfers can enjoy their own Carnoustie Country experience.
Carnoustie Country, which encompasses golf courses in Angus and Dundee, as well as courses in Perthshire and Fife, has good road, rail and air links. There’s a wide range of accommodation available, including stay-and-play packages, self-catering, B&Bs, hotels and exclusive-let mansions such as House of Turin and Kimblethmont.
To find out more about watching and playing golf in Carnoustie Country, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com.
Caption: Bernhard Langer, winner of the 2010 Senior Open Championship
Credit: Photo courtesy of www.carnoustiecountry.com
Angus Council
Angus Council works to create strong secure communities, an enterprising workforce, and sustainable development over the range of public services for which it has responsibility. We are a customer and citizen focused organisation and work to deliver accessible, effective and efficient services for the county\'s population.
