Scott Hend
The Australian won here on his Legends Tour debut 12 months ago, and he’s been a regular fixture at the top end of leaderboards ever since. Even though he’s still hunting a second win – and a first this season – his consistency has led him to 4th place in this year’s MCB Road to Mauritius. The three-time DP World Tour winner is looking forward to defending his maiden Legends Tour title this week.
“It’s sensational. It’s always nice to come back as defending champion. I’ve just got to learn a different golf course as it’s not the same course as last year, but the other course seems good. It’s quite challenging, a little wider, but I think the scoring will be quite good. I got here early. I came on Monday, played nine holes on Tuesday, I had a massive practice session on the range, and we have the pro-am today (Thursday). So I’ll be ready for Friday.”
Although the year since his magnificent debut on the Legends Tour has brought many good results, he’s disappointed not to have added more trophies: “One word – frustrating. I think since that win, I’ve had five seconds worldwide, including the Asian Tour, so it’s been a bit frustrating, to be honest. I’m working hard to try and get that next spot up.”
Part of that hard work is a focus on the mental side of the game, and he’s also got a familiar caddie back on the bag this week: “It’s stability, mental strength, positivity – all the things that go in together and mix up to form the perfect recipe for a win. I get distracted quite easily, so when I have someone caddie for me, it’s nice to have them kick me in the butt a couple of times and get focussed. It’s always nice to have somebody who’s very golf knowledgeable, a friend who can see the shot, and who can bounce back and forth off that.”
Adilson da Silva
Da Silva picked up his seventh win in just over two years at last week’s European Legends Cup in Spain. It’s been an incredible run for the man who got his first Legends Tour start at the 2022 Riegler and Partner Legends after writing to the tournament organisers to ask for an invite. He finished tied-3rd that week in Austria, 5th in his next start at the Jersey Legends, and the rest is history.
“You know, I just can’t believe it. Sometimes I actually pinch myself. It’s a big deal for me and my family to have this chance because things got kind of difficult for us after Covid. We had to make a decision about what we do. It was very tough because we had nothing to play in Asia or Africa. Then the Legends Tour came and it’s like ‘wow, I have to give it a go.’ It was my last chance. If it didn’t work out, I would have to find something else to do, because at the end of the day, you have to bring home the bacon. The Legends Tour has worked out and I’m very grateful for it. The invite for the Riegler and Partner Legends made such a huge difference. I got there with a really good mindset, like this is do or die. I think that helped me a lot too. Once you’re under the gun like that, you have to bring the goodies. Also, you love the game and you want to make it work, so that was a big plus for me.”
His victory at Golf Almerimar has taken him to the top of the MCB Road to Mauritius, having finished 2nd on the season-long Order of Merit in each of his first two years on the circuit: “That’s fantastic. I’m thrilled. You practice so hard on your game and nothing changes, then all-of-a-sudden, it just comes. You never know with golf, when it’s going to be good. But I’ve been working hard mentally and on my game as well, so I’m glad it’s come at the right time.”
He knows it’s important to kick on and cement his position at the top of the MCB Road to Mauritius this week: “I was actually talking to my wife a couple days ago and I told her it’s time to put the foot down and keep that gap. There are so many good players around. You can’t just go out there and think that you’re leading so it’s just going to happen. You still have to put the work in. I feel like I have to play and practice as hard as I can to keep it going because it’s competitive stuff. It’s forced me and encouraged me to work even harder.”
Phillip Archer
The Englishman has an excellent record at WINSTONgolf, with a pair of runner-up finishes the last two years. He’s also coming into some really good form and finished tied-3rd last week. He’s hoping those converging trends will lead to a maiden Legends Tour win.
“I’m really looking forward to it, coming out of Spain last week as well, and playing quite nicely. I’ve got good memories here – two good results, so yeah, looking good.
“The last few weeks I’ve gone 18th, 9th and 3rd, so obviously going in the right way. I’m now one good result from getting into that top 10 again (on the MCB Road to Mauritius) and getting into the majors for next year. That is the ultimate aim, but obviously a win in the last five or six events would be brilliant.”
Visit www.legendstour.com to see the full field and first round tee times, and to find out more about the WINSTONgolf Senior Open at WINSTONgolf, Vorbeck, Germany.
