Paul Broadhurst had the season dreams are made of last year, winning his first Major in his Senior Open Championship debut – a win that helped him scoop the John Jacobs Trophy for topping the Order of Merit.
He also won his first title in the US with victory at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and went on to be named Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour Champions.
He’s one of the many stars lining up in the inaugural, free entry, Sharjah Senior Golf Masters taking place from March 16-18 at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club as the European Senior Tour makes its debut in the emirate.
Worldwide Golf caught up with the affable Englishman ahead of the opening event of the 2017 European Senior Tour season in Sharjah.
“It’s great to be back here, the UAE is one of my favourite places to come and play. It’s glorious sunshine most of the time and we can wear our t-shirts which we don’t get the chance to do too often at this time of the year.
“I’m sure all the guys in the field this week are really looking forward to playing the course. I played in the pro-am here last year and really enjoyed. It’s a fantastic course and I think it suits my game. It’s fairly generous off the tee but your irons have got to be accurate because the greens are tricky. I think everybody is looking forward to it.
“The UAE has totally changed since we first started coming here in 1989. There are so many amazing golf courses now, it’s incredible.
“It’s been great watching golf develop here over the past 20 or 30 years. There’s a lot more interest among the locals now which can only be good for the game.”
“I had three or four years break from finishing on the main Tour to joining the Senior Tour. At the time it didn’t feel like it but it was probably a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to go away and work hard with a different coach for a few years and really turn my game around.”
“I feel as though over the last 18 months I’ve reaped the rewards of three years’ hard work. To win the Senior Open Championship and then going on to win at Pebble Beach in the US – topping the European Senior Tour Order of Merit and winning Rookie of the Year in the States, was a pretty incredible 2016 and it’s going to be tough to follow that but I’m up for the challenge and I’m here to try win this week.”
