Bernhard Langer held off a late challenge from US Ryder Cup captain, Corey Pavin, to win the 2010 Senior Open Championship.
The 52 year-old German closed with a level par 72, for a five under par aggregate of 283(67,71,69,72), one better than his nearest rival, and then admitted claiming the title at such a fine venue was at least some consolation for never winning The Open Championship.
“This ranks very high,” said the German, who a week later was to achieve a unique transatlantic double when he won the US Senior Open at the Sahalee Country Club in Seattle, Washington.
“You still get nervous, and especially in a Championship that means something to you. As you know, I always wanted to win The Open Championship and this is the next best thing. I will probably not win The Open Championship, but I’m very pleased to win The Senior Open Championship on a great course like this.”
“Carnoustie is a wonderful, tough links course, maybe the toughest I have ever played,” the champion added. “The set-up was very good and I want to congratulate all the people involved.”
The Championship course received a host of plaudits from the strong 146-man field comprising most of the world’s leading Senior golfers.
“It’s a great test of golf,” said America’s Jay Don Blake, who ended the Championship in a share of third place alongside Russ Cochran, Fred Funk and Peter Senior.
“It’s a course where you can’t be too aggressive because you can’t fly the ball straight at the flags like we are used to over the courses we play in America.
“I have had to learn a whole new game which is fun,” the American added. “It’s exciting, but it’s tough. I just tried to stay out of the death bunkers – as I call them – because it’s a one shot penalty every time you go in one of them.”
Pavin was also fulsome in his praise for the course despite his narrow defeat at the hands of his German rival.
“It’s a tough course but it’s a fair course,” he said. “You tend to get what you deserve.”
Langer’s victory made him the first Continental golfer to claim The Senior Open Championship. The leading British challenger turned out to be Welshman, Ian Woosnam, who finished eighth.
