Golfing greats Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle will rekindle their Shropshire & Herefordshire rivalry when they do battle for a £500,000 prize fund in North Wales this weekend.The two major champions, who both played amateur golf for S & H, will line up in the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open at Conwy.
It promises to be a special occasion for Oswestry-born Woosnam, who clinched his first strokeplay title since 1997 when he landed the Parkridge Polish Seniors Championship last week.
“It’s always great to come home to Wales,” said Woosnam, US Masters champion in 1991.
“This is my first Seniors Tour event in Britain so it promises to be a special one and I’m really looking forward to it. I was never able to win the Wales Open so I’m very much hoping I can win this instead.
“This is the second biggest prize money on the Seniors Tour and I hope to support the tournament for years to come and hopefully win it a few times along the way.
“I played here about 35 years ago as an amateur and that was all part of my learning curve which helped me in my career and I’ve been very lucky with the success I’ve had over the years since.Ê
“I hope my golf has brought some joy to people and I’ve had a great time along the way.”
Lyle, who himself won the Masters and the Open, was one of Woosnam’s assistant captains at the Ryder Cup in Ireland two years ago and he is relishing the chance to play alongside the Welshman. “It will be an honour for me to play” Lyle said.
“It means a great deal to me to play in front of British fans here and the chance to compete against some of my old adversaries will make the experience even more enjoyable.”
Another of Woosnam’s assistant captains in Irerland, Des Smyth, is also part of the impressive field, while former Ryder Cup players Jose Rivero and Constantion Rocca are also in the line-up.
It is the second consecutive year the event has been played at Conwy, with 2007 champion Carl Mason again competing for the £75,000 first prize.
* Phil Mickelson has confirmed that he will defend his HSBC Champions title in Shanghai this November alongside Masters champion Trevor Immelman.
By James Garrison
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