Seniors golf: Andrew Oldcorn enjoying new lease of life

Published on Saturday 24 December 2011 04:30

SCOTTISH golfers gave good accounts of themselves on the circuits on both sides of the Atlantic this season. Catriona Matthew, for instance, finished 16th on the LPGA money list while Martin Laird was 31st on the PGA Tour.

Over on this side of the pond, Paul Lawrie finished 18th in the Race to Dubai, while Craig Lee claimed 14th spot on the Challenge Tour rankings.

In terms of the highest finish, though, pride of place goes to Andrew Oldcorn, who marked his first full season on the European Senior Tour by claiming third spot behind Australian Peter Fowler and England?s double Scottish Senior Open winner, Barry Lane.

In 17 events, the 51-year-old from Edinburgh chalked up eight top-ten finishes, the highlight being a win in the PGA Seniors? Championship at Slaley Hall, where he completed a notable double after also claiming the PGA Championship at Wentworth a decade earlier on the European Tour.

?I wanted to win as early as I could to get that monkey off my back, so to speak,? admitted Oldcorn, who joined the circuit in the middle of 2010. ?I was expected to win by family, friends and colleagues and sometimes that extra pressure you feel is difficult to overcome.?

He made the breakthrough in style, winning by nine shots in Northumberland, but don?t dare suggest to Oldcorn it was a triumph that he was able to achieve due to Seniors? golf lacking a competitive edge. ?Our Tour is not given enough credit,? he declared. ?I think we get a bad rap sometimes. I think there?s a perception that we?ve had our careers and are out there having a laugh, but nothing could be further from the truth. Look at guys like Barry Lane, Peter Fowler, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance. Sam is 58 now but is still competitive.?

Before getting out there, Oldcorn reckoned ?three or four years? would probably be enough for him on the Seniors? circuit. ?But when I started I totally changed my mind,? he said. ?One because I was enjoying it so much and two I watched John Bland win the Wales Senior Open at 64. So, if I can I?ll try and play until I?m 60.

?Even at 51, I shouldn?t have the opportunity to play golf for a living. But I do and I?ll never take it for granted. Sure, we all bitch and moan about things that aren?t really important but, ultimately, we are lucky to have the Senior Tour.?

In fairness to Oldcorn ? who played for England as an amateur but was delighted when the powers that be afforded him Scottish status after he?d moved to live in the capital with his parents at the age of seven ? he ensured he was well prepared for the latest chapter in his career, having played here, there and everywhere for a spell as he tried to stay competitive in the countdown to his 50th birthday.

?I was prepared to swallow my pride and play EuroPro Tour, Tartan Tour, anywhere to get a game really,? recalled the three-time European Tour winner. ?I was doing it for a purpose. I wanted to hit the ground running and in part of a first season I finished seventh and now in my first full season I?ve finished third.?

In true Oldcorn fashion, it wasn?t without a touch of drama either. He started to have problems with his vision during the Senior British Open at Walton Heath and, after being diagnosed as a cataract in his right eye, he underwent successful surgery in October for its removal. Having battled ME for two years at the peak of his career, it was something he took in his stride, even though he understandably takes immense satisfaction from finishing the sesason strongly ? he shot a second-round 67 on his way to claiming ninth spot in the Tour Championship in Mauritius ? to hang on to third spot in the rankings.

?It?s nothing I had a problem dealing with because there?s always been drama around my career to contend with,? he mused. ?Thankfully, the operation has gone well and next year my vision will be fine.?

His sights are set on a two-month spell in the middle of 2012, when his schedule will include three majors ? the US Senior PGA Championship (at Harbour Shoes in Michigan on 24-27 May), the US Senior Open (at Indianwood in Michigan on 12-15 July) and the Senior British Open (at Turnberry on 26-29 July).

?I had to remain in the top four on the Order of Merit to gain an exemption for the US Open next year. That was on my mind the whole time my eyesight was degenerating,? he revealed.

?It gives me both US majors next year, when the US Seniors Open is before the British Senior Open this time. It?s same week as the Scottish Open. That?s good and those three tournaments will become the main focus of my season.?

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/seniors_golf_andrew_oldcorn_enjoying_new_lease_of_life_1_2023879

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