Can the down under success continue at the Senior Open Championship
Scott Hend has played well in senior majors this year. Can he break through for a major at this level? Image: PGA of America
Senior golf takes centre stage this week when the Senior Open Championship is played at the King’s Course at Gleneagles in Auchterarder in Scotland.
Following on from the magnificent victory by Ryan Fox at Royal Birkdale last week, Australasian golfers will be keen to keep the down under success going, and to potentially do so, 14 will face the starter on Thursday.
In alphabetical order, Steve Alker, Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, Mark Brown, Michael Campbell, Greg Chalmers, Matthew Goggin, Richard Green, Scott Hend, Mark Hensby, Michael Long, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy and Michael Wright all get their chance at the US$2.85 million purse and US$447,000 first prize.
Steve Alker has been well below his best in recent starts but plays an event in which he has recorded three top-tens in four starts, including a best of 3rd on debut at this venue in 2022, and so should be considered one of the best chances amongst the Australasians.
“Yeah, I love this place,” said Alker on Tuesday. “Just the countryside and the golf course itself, the shape. It’s in great shape. And you know, I was here four years ago, and it was my first Senior Open and I played well.
“I love the golf course, so it’s great to be back. My boy goes to school up in Stirling, just up the road, so it feels like home a little bit.
“It would be fantastic (to win). My wife is English. I’m kind of going after this one. This is one I’d really like to win. It’s just a matter of playing my game and trying to get in the zone, and as I said, I like the golf course, and it would be very special to win.”
Scott Hend has been one of the stars on the PGA Tour Champions and Europe’s Legends Tour in 2026 and did finish 4th in this event last year, albeit at a different venue. Hend has finished 2nd and 3rd in two of the three senior majors he has played in this season.
“Yeah, hopefully go a couple spots better than last year and play solid, said the Queenslander. “It’s always exciting to come play an R&A Championship, and we’ll see what happens.
“I’ve been playing nice. I had some issues where I had a driver break and then I had a driver stolen from my bag on my way over here from the States. Let’s see if we can still get around with hopefully the one driver I have doesn’t break because my back up was stolen in the back. Hard to get a golf club you can trust. Finally got a golf club I can trust with PING, and I was driving it good. So hopefully can keep that up.
“Yeah, obviously my next goal is to try and achieve a senior major at some point in time. To get any trophy would be great, and to get on this one would be good because then it will be at St Andrews (in the Open Championship) next year. That’s a nice little bonus that would be.”
Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Steve Allan and Michael Wright also shape as possible contenders.
