PETER SENIOR has capped his dramatic entry to the world’s over 50 professional golf scene by winning a spot on next year’s lucrative US Champions Tour.
The Australian golfing great left nothing to chance on the weekend by shooting a five under par 66 to win the 25th Champions Tour’s National Qualifying Tournament at TPC Scottsdale.
Needing to be in the top five to gain full exemption for the 2010 Champions Tour season, Senior carded five birdies in his last nine holes in Arizona to beat the field by three strokes.
“Getting in here has been an unbelievable thing.” Senior said. “I can now set my schedule and I’m excited about playing on the Champions Tour next year.”
Senior is the first Australian to win the hotly contested four round tournament. It paves the way for a place on a tour that this year conducted 25 official ”Charles Schwab Cup” events offering a total of $48.9 million in prize money.
The Champions Tour continues to develop and increase in popularity since it began in 1980 as the PGA Seniors Tour, starting with just four events in its initial year.
The average purse in 2009 of $1.96 million for the 25 events was the highest ever.
Senior turned 50 on July 31, stating attaining a US Champions Tour card was a major goal.
He has since played three events on the European Senior Tour and with two seconds and a fourth finished 14th on the final Order of Merit.
Senior has also recently played his first Australian Legends Tour events, being beaten by Mike Harwood in a playoff for the Australian Senior Open title.
The four other players to gain 2010 Champions Tour exemptions were Joe Ozaki (Japan), Steve Haskins (USA), Ronnie Black (USA) and Jim Roy (USA).
Wayne Grady, the only other Australian in the field, withdrew after the third round.