|
Senior Open Qualifying will be staged at four Scottish courses before Europe’s Senior Major Championship returns to Carnoustie for a third time from July 25-28, 2024.
Downfield Golf Club in Dundee, Panmure Golf Club in Carnoustie, the Medal Course at Monifieth Golf Links and 1562 course at Montrose Golf Links will all host aspiring over-50s players hoping to earn a spot in the prestigious Championship on the famous Scottish links.
Downfield has been a Senior Open Qualifying venue on two previous occasions and is recognised as one of the finest inland courses in Britain. With rolling contours and stunning scenery, the parkland course provides a very different challenge to the links courses nearby.
Panmure is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, dating back to 1845, and will also host its third Senior Open Qualifying in 2024. The course combines the best elements of links and heathland, with tight fairways, challenging carries and undulating greens providing a real test.
Golf has been played over the Links at Monifieth for over 400 years, with the club officially founded in 1858. It now has two 18-hole courses, with the Medal Course set to provide a stern challenge for those teeing it up in Qualifying. Situated on the Angus coastline, unusually for a links course many holes have tree-lined fairways.
Monifieth provided eight-time major winner Tom Watson with his first experience of links golf back in 1975. He returned to the club 36 years later – as a five-time winner of the Claret Jug – to receive Honorary Life Membership.
The current layout of the 1562 course at Montrose was finalised in 1913 by Harry Colt who used the natural landscape to great effect. Apart from a re-alignment of the second hole in 2008, the course today is the one laid out by Colt more than 100 years ago. The holes are presented in an unusual T-shaped configuration. The front nine plays predominantly along the shoreline before hole ten to 13 turn inland. The final five holes then head back home, towards the sea.
David Williams, Tournament Director of The Senior Open Presented by Rolex, said: “We are delighted to today confirm the four venues for Senior Open Qualifying.
“They are all more than worthy of providing players with the chance to qualify for this prestigious championship and we wish all competitors the very best of luck.”
The 2023 Senior Open Presented by Rolex, where Alex Cejka secured a third Senior Major Championship by edging out Padraig Harrington in a playoff, saw 450 players attempt to qualify from the UK events, with 26 earning their place at Royal Porthcawl.
Entries for Senior Open Qualifying are not yet live and will open in due course. |
