Senior Open returns to Sunningdale and Carnoustie

The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex will return to Sunningdale Golf Club in 2015 followed by Carnoustie Golf Links in 2016, it was announced today.

It will be the second time The Senior Open Championship has visited each of the venues, with Sunningdale’s Old Course having staged the 2009 Championship, when American Loren Roberts defeated compatriot Fred Funk and Ireland’s Mark McNulty in a play-off, and Germany’s Bernhard Langer triumphing at Carnoustie a year later, holding off the challenge of 2010 US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin.

The announcement follows Rolex’s long term commitment to The European Tour and The R&A, revealed at the end of the 2013 season, which included continuing as Presenting Sponsor of The Senior Open Championship until at least 2022.

Last year The Senior Open Championship attracted record crowds of 45,575 as American Mark Wiebe defeated two-time Masters Champion Langer in a play-off at Royal Birkdale. It will be another historic occasion this year when Wales welcomes its first Senior Major Championship, as the Senior Open Championship visits Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Bridgend, from July 24-27.

The Championship will then return to Sunningdale from July 23-26, 2015 – its eighth staging on English soil – before heading to Scotland for the first time since Turnberry in 2012 when Carnoustie hosts the 30^th edition of The Senior Open Championship from July 21-14, 2016.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships, at The R&A, said on behalf of the Championship: “Rolex has been a long term supporter of the Senior Open Championship and we are delighted that they have extended this arrangement. After a hugely successful Senior Open at Royal Birkdale we are very much looking forward to taking the Championship to two outstanding venues in Sunningdale in 2015 and Carnoustie in 2016.

“Both are iconic courses and have successfully staged The Senior Open Championship once before, so the players will look forward to returning to them.”

In addition to The 2009 Senior Open Championship, Sunningdale has also hosted the British Masters, the European Open, The Seve Trophy, the Walker Cup, and International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship, as well as the Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Meanwhile, Carnoustie has hosted The Open Championship on seven occasions, most recently in 2007 when Ireland’s Padraig Harrington claimed his first Claret Jug after defeating Spain’s Sergio Garcia in a play-off.

Tickets for The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex can be bought online via www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0)800 0232557, with details of hospitality packages also available.