The Senior Open 2024
KJ Choi became the first South Korean to win a senior major championship as he claimed a two-stroke victory in the Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Carnoustie.
The 54-year-old got off to a slow start but regained his momentum around the turn at the renowned Angus links to put daylight between himself and the chasing pack as he signed for a closing two-under-par round of 70 and a winning total of ten-under-par, two clear of Australia’s Richard Green.
Slow start
The eight-time PGA Tour winner opened with a bogey and dropped further shots at the 5th and 6th as the leaderboard became bunched with a number of players in contention.
Choi’s playing partner Green and his other main pursuers Paul Broadhurst and Stephen Ames were going along steadily but, not for the first time this week, he moved up a gear and picked up a shot either side of the turn to get back to one-over for the day.
The Korean parred the 11th and then entered a three-hole stretch which determined the outcome of the 2024 Senior Open.
The former world number five recorded back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th before holing a 30-footer for eagle at the 14th to open a four-shot lead with only four to play.
“This event is historical in Korea (to be the) first-time champion at the Senior Open. I’m very proud this week.”
K J Choi
Carnoustie experience key
Choi used his experience of earning a share of eighth in The Open at Carnoustie in 2007 to safely navigate the next three holes before closing with a bogey to secure his maiden major title.
“It’s unbelievable, today’s game,” he said. “I prayed all week. Either way I started very nervous and some speed was off, which was the difference, and I made three bogeys after six. I kept my attention and prayed. I felt more comfortable in the swing.
“I made a bad start but then seven and eight was better and then made birdie on nine, which made me feel better. The back-to-back birdies on nine and ten gave me real momentum today.
“This event is historical in Korea (to be the) first-time champion at the Senior Open. I’m very proud this week.”
Australian Green extended his excellent run of form in the senior majors by securing his third top three finish of the season while England’s Broadhurst finished two shots further back in third on six-under.
Canadian Ames finished fourth on three-under-par while seven players finished in a tie for fifth on two-under, including former Ryder Cup Captains Thomas Bjørn, Pádraig Harrington and Bernhard Langer.
Words: The R&A
The Senior Open 2016
Paul Broadhurst produced a career defining performance to capture The Senior Open Championship on his debut in the event.
Broadhurst admitted the performance was “the biggest achievement of my life” as he signed for an 11 under total of 277 and a 2 stroke winning margin over American Scott McCarron, with 3rd round leader Miguel Angel Jimenez sharing 3rd place with Swede Magnus Atlevi.
Not surprisingly Broadhurst admitted his love of Carnoustie which was also the scene of his highest Open Championship finish back in 2007. Having won 6 times on the European Tour and 100% record in his 2 Ryder Cup appearances he has no doubt this was the biggest achievement. “This is bigger than all those wins, a lot, lot bigger. Its absolutely massive! Its difficult to compare to the Ryder Cup but that was due to an accumulation of points. This ranks higher than the Ryder Cup”
Final Scores
277 P Broadhurst (Eng) 75,66,68,68
279 S McCarron (USA) 69,70,71,69
280 M Atlevi (Swe) 70,69,74,67 M Jimenez (Spain) 70,70,65,75
Other notable scores
284 B Langer (Ger) 71,71,71,71 285 J Sluman (USA) 73,73,71,68 287 M O’Meara 69,70,73,75 289 T Watson (USA) 76,70,72,71 293 J Daly (USA) 72,73,73,75
The Senior Open 2010
Bernhard Langer held off a late challenge from US Ryder Cup captain, Corey Pavin, to win the 2010 Senior Open Championship.
The 52 year-old German closed with a level par 72, for a five under par aggregate of 283(67,71,69,72), one better than his nearest rival, and then admitted claiming the title at such a fine venue was at least some consolation for never winning The Open Championship.
“This ranks very high,” said the German, who a week later was to achieve a unique transatlantic double when he won the US Senior Open at the Sahalee Country Club in Seattle, Washington.
“You still get nervous, and especially in a Championship that means something to you. As you know, I always wanted to win The Open Championship and this is the next best thing. I will probably not win The Open Championship, but I’m very pleased to win The Senior Open Championship on a great course like this.”
“Carnoustie is a wonderful, tough links course, maybe the toughest I have ever played,” the champion added. “The set-up was very good and I want to congratulate all the people involved.”
The Championship course received a host of plaudits from the strong 146-man field comprising most of the world’s leading Senior golfers.
“It’s a great test of golf,” said America’s Jay Don Blake, who ended the Championship in a share of third place alongside Russ Cochran, Fred Funk and Peter Senior.
“It’s a course where you can’t be too aggressive because you can’t fly the ball straight at the flags like we are used to over the courses we play in America.
“I have had to learn a whole new game which is fun,” the American added. “It’s exciting, but it’s tough. I just tried to stay out of the death bunkers – as I call them – because it’s a one shot penalty every time you go in one of them.”
Pavin was also fulsome in his praise for the course despite his narrow defeat at the hands of his German rival.
“It’s a tough course but it’s a fair course,” he said. “You tend to get what you deserve.”
Langer’s victory made him the first Continental golfer to claim The Senior Open Championship. The leading British challenger turned out to be Welshman, Ian Woosnam, who finished eighth.