Another chance for Norman at US Senior
BY Bruce Young | Champions Tour | 2008 US Senior Open | Preview | 31 Jul 2008
It was perhaps not surprising that Greg Norman was unable to back up last week at the Senior British Open Championship after his stunning performance the week before at Royal Birkdale but he gets another chance at this week’s US Senior Open at the East Course at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs in Colorado, an hour or so drive south of Denver.
The original Donald Ross designed layout was redesigned in 1965 by Robert Trent Jones and will measure 7200 yards for this week’s championship.
Essentially, favouritism rests with three players namely Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer and Jay Haas although Loren Roberts and Eduard Romero could pose a strong challenge.
This is Norman’s first US Senior Open and although perhaps disappointing last week at the Senior British Open, he did finish the event off very well to finish 5th. There is little doubt that there is no other player in this field who could have done what Norman did at the British Open at Royal Brikdale the week prior and perhaps his effort at the Senior British Open was a reaction to such an impressive week.
Langer leads the Champions Tour money list and did well last week when 4th behind Bruce Vaughn at Royal Troon. If not the winner this week, he must surely be a factor.
Jay Haas surprisingly did not travel to Scotland last week but he is one of the class players of the Champions Tour. Haas won the Senior PGA Championship two months ago and one other tournament this season. It is more than a month since has played tournament golf but he is likely to be ready to do well.
Romero won at his last in the US before narrowly missing a playoff last week at the Senior British Open. He is a genuine contender this week.
Australians in the field other than Norman are Graham Marsh and Wayne Grady.
The event has prizemoney of US$2.6 million.
