Jul. 21, 2009
By Vartan Kupelian, PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top 5 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.
Bruce Vaughan's victory at the 2008 British Senior Open Championship was his first in 33 career starts on the Champions Tour. It made Vaughan the second golfer from Kansas in two years to triumph in the event, following Tom Watson, the master of links golf.
Vaughan became the fifth American to win the title, joining Tom Wargo (1994), Pete Oakley (2004), Loren Roberts (2006) and Watson (2003, 2005, 2007).
This year's Senior British is at Sunningdale's Old Course in Berkshire, England. Watson, who lost a playoff Sunday at last week's Open Championship in Turnberry, Scotland, will try to join Gary Player as the only four-time winners of the event.
The field includes 18 major champions.
This week's Champions Tour Power Rankings for the Senior British Open Championship:
| Power Rankings: Senior British Open Championship |
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Bernhard LANGER |
He continues to dominate the Champions Tour, and he'll be right at home alongside longtime European Tour colleagues Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam. Langer finished fourth in his Senior British debut last year at Royal Troon. |
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Tom WATSON |
The near-miss at Turnberry was agonizing in many ways for Watson and all his supporters. The question this week is can he ride the momentum or will there be a letdown after what was so close to being a historic occasion. |
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Michael ALLEN |
We haven't seen him on the Champions Tour since he won the first major of the year, the Senior PGA Championship at Canterbury Golf Club. But he has continued to play well on the PGA TOUR and is coming off an impressive T11 at the AT&T National. |
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Greg NORMAN |
The Australian who, like Watson this year, came so close to winning the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2008, is looking for his first Champions Tour major triumph. Norman tied for fifth at last year's Senior British. |
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Jay HAAS |
In his two previous Senior British appearances, he had a T6 in 2006 and T4 in 2007. Haas has two Champions Tour major victories, both in the Senior PGA Championship, and 14 top-10 finishes in Champions Tour majors. |
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