Categorized | Latest Golf News

Watson and Norman force British Open age change

Tom WatsonTOM WATSON’S heart stopping performance at the British Open this year has led to the Royal & Ancient rethinking its age exemption rules.

The 60-year-old five-time Open champion finished runner-up this year but would have lost his exemption status because of the R&A’s age rules.

But golf’s governing body said yesterday it had amended one of its rules so that former champions who finish in the top 10 in the previous five Opens get a five-year exemption, regardless of age.

“We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open champions (Watson and Greg Norman), both in their 50s, challenging to win our championship these last two years,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said on Monday.

“We rightly reduced the age of exemption for past champions from 65 to 60 two years ago and our intention was never to remove players still at the top of their game from competing in the Open.”

The R & A had not contemplated a 59-year-old leading the Open Championship going into the back nine on the final day.

Two time championship winner Norman, who turns 55 in February, will have five years to secure a top ten finish and extend his exemption. The Shark tied for third at the 2008 Open.

The Open will celebrate its 150th Anniversary when it returns to St Andrews next year.

Share

Related posts:

  1. Greg Norman unlikely 2011 British Open starter
  2. Greg Norman in tune for British Open
  3. Norman fades, Roberts takes 2009 Senior British Open
  4. Norman, Day and Watson head to Coolum 2011
  5. British Open 2010
  6. Can Greg Norman be lured to the revamped NSW Open?
  7. Greg Norman Bound for Australian Open 2009
  8. Norman leads US Senior Open, but don’t hock the silverware just yet
  9. Scott, Ogilvy and Allenby ramping up for the 2011 British Open
  10. Norman, Scott and Ogilvy spearhead 2010 Australian Open

This post was written by:

- who has written 806 posts on Australian Senior Golfer.

Brian is the editor and founder of ASG. He is a former Sydney journalist and is now an avid "senior" golfer. Brian is a member of the Australian Golf Writers Association.

Contact the author

Leave a Reply

Photos on flickr

Search ASG Content with Google

Custom Search

What’s On This Week

US PGA Tour
May 17-20 HP Byron Nelson Championship, TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas, $6,500,000. Last year's winner: Keegan Bradley
US PGA Nationwide Tour
May 17-20 BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, Thornblade Club, Greer, South Carolina, Greenville Country Club, Greenville, South Carolina, The Carolina Country Club, Spartanburg, South Carolina, $600,000. Last year's winner: Garth Mulroy
European PGA Tour
May 17-20 Volvo World Match Play Championship, Finca Cortesin, Casares, Andalucía, Spain, €2,750,000. Last year's winner: Ian Poulter
OneAsia Tour
May 17-20 SK Telecom Open, Pinx GC, Korea, $785,000. Last year's winner: Kurt Barnes
US LPGA Tour
May 17-20 Sybase Match Play Championship, Gladstone, NJ, $1,500,000. Last year's winner: Suzann Pettersen
PGA of Australia Pro-Ams
May 16-17 Port Macquarie Better Homes Pro-Am, Port Macquarie Golf Club, NSW/ ACT, $20,000
May 16-17 Blackwater Mine Workers Pro-Am, Blackwater Golf Club, QLD, $25,000
May 16 Yanchep Golf Estate Sun City Pro-Am 2012, Sun City Country Club, WA/NT, $10,000
May 17 2012 Schweppes Pro-Am at Maylands Peninsula Golf Course, Maylands Peninsula Public Golf Course, WA/NT, $10,000
May 18 Melville Glades Pro-Am, Melville Glades Golf Club, WA/NT, $10,000
May 19-20 Wauchope BDM Constructions & Wauchope Real Estate Pro-Am, Wauchope Country Club, NSW/ ACT, $17,500
May 19-20 Valley Longwall International Conveyor Division Emerald Pro-Am, Emerald Golf Club, QLD, $25,000
May 21 Alcoa Pinjarra Golf Club Centenary Pro-Am, Pinjarra Golf Club, WA/NT, $10,000
May 21 Runge Mining Towns Ladies Masters, Tieri Golf Club, QLD
May 22 Kennedy Bay Pro-Am, The Links Kennedy Bay, WA/NT, $10,000

Featured in Alltop

Brian O'Hare_ASG Twitter Feed