Vaughan wins, Norman 5th at Senior Open

BY Bruce Young | Champions Tour | 2008 Senior British Open | Round Four | 28 Jul 2008

51-year-old Bruce Vaughan has won his first event on the Champions Tour by winning a playoff over John Cook at the Senior British Open at Royal Birkdale. Vaughan birdied the first extra hole at Royal Birkdale to defeat Cook after Cook appeared to have the tournament in his grasp for so long during the final round.

Vaughan is in his second season on the Champions Tour having qualified in late 2006 by finishing third at the Tour School. He did well enough in his first season to earn limited status in 2008 and with this major behind him he enjoys the luxury of knowing his immediate future is secure.

Kansas based Vaughan has played the Nationwide Tour on occasions over the years and played the USPGA Tour for one full season in 1995. The US$315,000 he earned for this week’s performance is by far his biggest cheque in the game but equally important is that it established him as a bona fide Champions Tour player, especially given the manner in which he won.

Vaughan played the first extra hole perfectly, finishing 20 feet from the hole with a six iron from the middle of the fairway and took the initiative by holing his putt ahead of Cook’s putt from lesser distance. Cook was unable to hole his response and it was all over.

Cook, who led the Open Championship at Muirfield in 1992 before being run down by Nick Faldo suffered a similar fate today when, after an outward nine of 32, he fell away over the closing stages and opened the door for Vaughan and others.

A double bogey at the 11th hole would be the start of the slide for Cook who until then appeared to be marching towards a significant victory.

Vaughan on the other hand secured an all important birdie at the 16th and parred in to join Cook in a playoff and win at the first extra hole.

It was a very happy Vaughan who spoke to the media after his victory.

“You know, the money’s great, because I’ve had problems with my knee and haven’t been able to play much for a long time. I just kind of was biding my time waiting to get out here because I thought I could play out here. Last year, what I went through to get to where I was at this year, to be able to play, and stuff, the money is great, but you know, until you win, you’re just another player. To me, it’s all about winning.”

“This is where golf originated, you know, and like I told you the other day you’ve got to come here. There is only a handful of majors to play in the country and to come over here; we get spoiled at home.”

Eduardo Romero created an opportunity for himself when he too birdied the 16th but was unable to birdie either of the final two holes and finished one behind.

Bernhard Langer was looming as Cook’s biggest threat when he moved to 6 under for the tournament himself through 16 holes. Surprisingly, the experienced German, who currently leads the Champions Tour standings, bogeyed the final two holes and his chance was gone.

Greg Norman, whose presence had promised so much following his great week at Royal Birkdale and had added a whole new dimension to this week’s event, made a big move early on day four with five birdies in his first seven holes and at that point an improbable comeback victory seemed on the cards.

A bogey at the notorious Postage Stamp, after being short with his tee shot and missing his par save from 10 feet, stole the momentum away from Norman and perhaps gave those ahead of him a break. Norman finished in a share of 5th with Gene Jones and Tom Watson, the latter of who was looking to win the event for the fourth time.

David Merriman was the next best of the Australasians in 21st place, Wayne Grady was 27th, New Zealander Jim Lapsley was 41st, Noel Ratcliffe 51st and Terry Gale 59th.