PETER FOWLER has had a highly successful week in Europe, being voted by his peers as the 2011 Senior Tour player of the year and capping it off with a close second in the 2012 Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters.
At the annual European Senior Tour awards dinner last week the Australian was given a stunning Rolex watch after being voted as the 2011 Senior Tour player of the year by his fellow members.
Fowler won the 2011 tour Order of Merit with earnings of €302,327. In that year he won both the ISPS Handa Senior Masters and the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, and finishing in the top ten in 13 of his 18 appearances.
He pipped Englishman Barry Lane to the John Jacobs Trophy by just over €30,000, capping an impressively consistent season and vastly improving on his 29th place finish in 2010.
Fowler suffered a career-threatening back injury while practising for his Senior Tour debut in the 2009 Jersey Seniors Classic and ultimately played just four times that season. He continued his recovery in 2010, with four top tens, and returned to peak form last year to claim his maiden Senior Tour title and first win for 18 years.
“To get the player of the year award when I’m playing with so many great players is fantastic,” Fowler, 53, said on the eve of the Senior Masters. “It’s nice to get one up on them for once! The Rolex is amazing and it’s something I’ll always treasure. It was a brilliant evening.”
Fowler backed up that performance immediately, with a strong display at the Woburn Golf Club, in Woburn, England.
Irishman Des Smyth won the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters title for the second time in three years with a 4-under 68 in the final round taking him to a tournament total of 10-under.
Fowler shot a 67 to finish just one stroke behind alone in second place on 9-under.
Fowler commented: “Thursday evening (the Senior Tour annual awards dinner) was an excellent night and to get the award was great. I played well last week and I’m happy with the way I’ve played this week too. I drove it well this week, which is important on this course. It gave me a few more birdie chances.”
Fowler is currently third in the 2012 Order of Merit.
Great effort by Peter Fowler, his consistent play has been well rewarded. Like Peter Senior in the US, Fowler is enjoying the fruits of success on the Senior Tour.