FORMER RYDER Cup captain Sam Torrance is hoping that regular matches with Tim Henman – at golf not tennis – will pay dividends when he extends his record number of appearances on the European Tour this week.
The 55-year-old Scot, whose debut was way back in 1972, plays his 705th event in the Estoril Portuguese Open at Oitavos Dunes.
That is 81 more than anybody else – next in the table comes England’s Barry Lane, who is also in the field – and Torrance said: “I’ve been playing three or four times a week at Sunningdale and playing a lot with Tim.
“He’s very competitive and I’ve benefited from it. He’s a one-handicapper and I give him one shot. He breaks par every time, virtually, and has shot 66 round the New Course.”
Torrance won on the over-50s circuit in Barbados two weeks ago, but because they do not have their next event for over a month he sought was granted an invitation to this week’s tournament.
“It might be delusions of grandeur, but I’m here to play, I know the course and I’m looking forward to it.”
Defending champion this week is Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, who beat former Ryder Cup star David Howell and Scot Alastair Forsyth in a play-off last April.
- ASIAN TOUR:India's Gaganjeet Bhullar will play in this year's British Open after carding a four-under-par 67 to win Asia's International Final Qualifying in Singapore, the Royal and Ancient said on Wednesday.
