Americans again shine at Senior Open
BY Bruce Young | Champions Tour | 2009 Senior British Open | Round Four | 27 Jul 2009
Who said the Americans struggle with British golf? Ten of the last thirteen Open Champions have been Americans and today Loren Roberts became the seventh consecutive American winner of the Senior British Open when he defeated fellow countryman Fred Funk and Zimbabwe’s (now Ireland’s) Mark McNulty in a playoff for the event at Sunningdale.
Roberts, who won this event at Turnberry in 2006, claimed the title today with a par at the third extra hole after Funk had been eliminated at the first. Roberts moves to second on the Champions Tour money list, albeit a long way behind the runaway leader, Bernhard Langer.
McNulty was the big mover on the final day with a round of 64 but a wild drive at the final playoff hole cost him his chance and he shared second position with Funk.
Bernhard Langer came from well back after 36 holes with weekend rounds of 65 and 65 to finish one shot out of the playoff.
Greg Norman led into the final round after a stunning round of 64 on Saturday but although he was still in the hunt with just a few holes to play a double bogey at the 17th cost him the chance of his fist victory on the Seniors Tour.
Wayne Grady and the 63 year old Noel Ratcliffe tied for 32nd, Stewart Ginn was 68th and Graham Marsh 71st.
The Champions Tour now heads for Carmel in Indiana for this week’s US Senior Open.
