Sam aims to play it again at SBN

Sam Torrance will return to a happy hunting ground when he tees up in this year’s ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland from June 5-8.

The Scot, who is one of Paul McGinley’s Ryder Cup vice captains at Gleneagles, triumphed when the European Senior Tour event was staged at the Suffolk resort in 2006.

It was the second of his two PGA Seniors titles and one of 11 Senior Tour wins in a sparkling senior career that has seen the 60 year old lift the John Jacobs Trophy Order of Merit on three occasions.

“The PGA Seniors Championship is one of our biggest events and holds happy memories for me particularly at Stoke by Nayland where I won last time out,” said Torrance.

“I’m looking forward to competing over the Gainsborough course and challenging for a third PGA Seniors title.”

Torrance, who also won the PGA Seniors in 2005 at Carden Park, will be joined by fellow Ryder Cup vice captain Des Smyth.

Other players in action include Barry Lane while popular Sky Sports pundits Tony Johnstone and Jamie Spence will be stepping out from the studio to exhibit their golfing skills as they take their place in the starting line-up.

However it will be former PGA club professional Paul Wesselingh who is the man to beat as he bids to win a third successive crown.

PGA head of tournaments Simon Higginbottom added: “We’re delighted Sam Torrance will be in action in the PGA Seniors, he remains one of the most popular players on tour.

“It is a great opportunity for golf fans to see some of the biggest names in European seniors’ golf and also to see just how well they still play the game.”

In addition to seeing the cream of European golf, spectators can take part in a designated family fun day on Saturday, savour a packed tented village and also give their own games a boost with free coaching clinics administered by expert PGA professional coaches.

There is also a special coaching clinic as part of the ISPS Handa PGA Academy programme which is encouraging disabled people to give golf a go. PGA professional Craig Thomas will host the clinic and people with a disability can come along and have some free coaching.

Advance tickets at discount can be purchased at https://www.theticketfactory.com/pga/online/