The Senior Open returns to Gleneagles...all you need to know..

 R&A: The Senior Open sponsored by ISPS..Entry List

Senior Major golf returns to Scotland this week as The Gleneagles Hotel plays host to the ISPS HANDA Senior Open. 

It has been a tremendous 3 weeks in the UK, with the Ryan Fox's thrilling win at the Open down in Southgate, England with record breaking crowds, framed by Tom Kim's Scottish Open win near North Berwick in Scotland, and now just up the east coast to Perth, Auchterarder to be precise, to the world class Gleneagles Resort for the Senior Open Championship.

Here is all you need to know.

Harrington defends

Pádraig Harrington became the fifth player in history to win both The Open Championship and the ISPS HANDA Senior Open as he cruised to a three-shot victory at Sunningdale 12 months ago.

Harrington joined Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Darren Clarke as a winner of the Claret Jug and the Senior Open trophy. 

"There are some great names on the trophy," he said. "I was looking at the board inside with all the winners and it's a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that I've done both." The 54-year-old arrives full of confidence having recently won the U.S. Senior Open for the third time for a fourth Senior Major win.

Back at Gleneagles

The Senior Open returns to Gleneagles for just second time this week, with the world's best set to take on the King's Course. 

The Scottish venue will always be associated with what happened over on the PGA Centenary Course in 2014, when Paul McGinley's Europe beat the United States to win a third consecutive Ryder Cup but the hotel has also hosted the Solheim Cup, Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Championship among other events. 

The Senior Open was first staged here in 2022, also over the King's Course, with former Open champion and Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke lifting the trophy.

Happy returns

While everybody in the field will be delighted to be taking on the King's Course in the spectacular setting of Gleneagles, two players will be particularly happy to be back in Perthshire. 

Darren Clarke returns to the scene of his first, and so far only, Senior Major victory, which was claimed in dramatic style four years ago. Clarke shared the lead heading into the final day and was still on top when a torrential downpour caused a near two-hour delay. 

Upon the resumption, Harrington birdied the 17th and 18th to set the clubhouse target but two putts from just off the green at the par-five last handed Clarke a birdie and a one-shot win.

Jamie Donaldson also returns to the venue where 12 years ago he hit the shot of his life to seal the winning point for Europe at the Ryder Cup. That was on the PGA Centenary Course but being back on the grounds of Gleneagles is sure to bring back happy memories.

Inside the field

We may have already mentioned a plethora of heavyweight names but there are plenty more in a field that contains 15 Major Champions, Ten Open Champions and 29 Ryder Cup players.

 Former World #1,  Ernie Els and David Duval are on display alongside winners of this event KJ Choi, Alex Cejka, Stephen Dodd, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Mark Calcavecchia. Leading the home charge will be Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher, with Montgomerie's fellow former Europe captain Paul McGinley teeing up where he lifted the Ryder Cup as skipper. YE Yang, Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem, Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen, Stewart Cink and Justin Leonard complete the line up of Major Champions.

One of the unique things about senior events is that every year a fresh cohort of players tee it up who have turned 50 since the last edition. Alongside Donaldson, who has already claimed two wins since his birthday in October, is fellow 2014 Ryder Cupper and former Open champion Henrik Stenson. Two-time Major Champion, former US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson is making his debut flying in from his recent win on the PGA Tour Champions.

edit >>>> Canada will be represented by Stephen Ames and qualifier Gordon Burns of Meadowbrook GC, Stouffville. Ontario

Add in six-time PGA TOUR winner Rory Sabbatini and three-time DP World Tour winner Hennie Otto and we could have youthful senior winner this week.

Stefano Mazzoli wins first DP World Tour Championship, Hughes/Ewart T20...Results

    DP World/PGA Tours : Corales Puntacana Championship    Leaderboard  

• Results

Stefano Mazzoli became the DP World Tour's newest first-time winner as he made a final-hole birdie to win the Corales Puntacana Championship and gain access to the PGA TOUR.

The Italian rookie, who earned promotion from the HotelPlanner Tour last year, trailed Todd Clements by four shots ahead of the final round but shot a -6 66 to finish one shot ahead of the Englishman and Gordon Sargent of the United States.

With the victory in the Dominican Republic, 29-year-old Mazzoli earns PGA TOUR playing privileges through to the end of 2028.

He mixed birdies at the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth with a bogey at the fifth on his front nine to reach -17 at the turn, but at this stage he was still four shots back of Clements.

But after two birdies in the opening three holes of the back nine for Clements, the 54-hole leader gave them back with a double bogey at the 13th to drop back to 20 under.

Playing in the group ahead, Mazzoli closed the gap to one with a birdie at the 14th, something later matched by Sargent at the 16th.

Moments later, the trio were then level at -19 when Clements bogeyed the 16th, before Mazzoli produced his decisive birdie to claim an emotional victory.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, this past year,” said Mazzoli.

"You doubt yourself quite a lot, but I’ve always been really determined on working, sacrifice and everything since when I was a kid.

“I knew since 15, 16 that this is what I wanted to do so I was really happy to do it even if maybe other people outside from school and everybody else was looking at me like kind of weirdly, ‘Why is this guy not coming to the cinema with us?’

"Like I knew this is what I wanted to do and I was really happy to do it and wake up early or go to bed early at night.”

The victory sees Mazzoli rise to 39th in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and to the top of the Closing Swing Rankings, while he is set to make a big leap up the Official World Golf Ranking from 424th

EDIT >>>> Canadians : Mac Hughes 66 72 69 68 -13, AJ Ewart 69 69 68 69 -13, (Hadwin, Pendrith, Svensson, Silverman missed cut)

DP World Tour now takes a 3 week break, returning for the Danish Open August 13th.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Ryan Fox with a final putt, 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year...Final results

    DP World/PGA Tours : 154th Open Championship   Leaderboard Results

Ryan Fox birdied the 72nd hole to win his first Major Championship in a thrilling climax to The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.

The New Zealander entered the final day two shots off the lead and at -7 through 11 holes of his round was struggling to ignite in the toughening conditions over the sun-baked Southport links.

But he produced a brilliant, gutsy performance down the stretch to claim the Claret Jug and be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.

In his typical fast on-course manner, he seized the moment with four birdies in his final six holes, producing two of his career-best shots at the 18th, before holding his nerve to hole an 11 foot birdie putt to claim a one-shot triumph over American Cameron Young, who had earlier set the clubhouse target at -9 with a 64.

With victory, Fox becomes just the second Kiwi golfer to win The Open after Bob Charles in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The win is Fox's fifth on the DP World Tour and first since he became a Rolex Series winner at the BMW PGA Championship in September 2023.

Having produced a Major record-equalling 62 in the third round to vault into contention, Fox realised a career goal in a finish that will live long in the memory.

Sam Burns, who held the 54-hole lead, finished 3rd at -8 after a 70, with defending champion Scott Scheffler and home hero Tommy Fleetwood then T4 place at -7 after rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.

Speaking at the trophy presentation, 39-year-old father-of-two Fox said: "I spoke to my kids last night, and they said, 'Bring back a trophy.' I think this is a pretty cool one to bring back for them."

He later said: "It's unbelievable, to be honest. I still don't know what to think. My nerves are all over the place. I'm not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18. Look, it is a dream come true.

"Looking at that trophy now, it's the first time I've seen it up close. So it's pretty amazing."

"To play that last hole how I did, I stood on the tee and said to my caddie Dean [Smith], we're going to try to win this.

"I hit two perfect shots. I'm not sure how I hit the putt. As I said, my hands were all over the place. I was just trying to get it towards the hole somewhere. It's surreal that it went in.

"Champion Golfer of the Year has got a pretty good ring to it."

What it Means

• His first Major Championship win in his 29th appearance at one of the four men's marquee events

• His first Open Championship title comes in his tenth appearance

• Moves to fifth on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World on 2,042.30 points, up from 84th

• Set to rise from 56th to a career-high 22nd on the Official World Golf Ranking

• Earns eligibility to play The Open until the age of 55

• He is into the next five editions of the Masters, US PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

• Receives a lifetime invitation to both the Senior PGA Championship and the Senior Open Championship once he turns 50, along with a one-year invitation to the US Senior Open

• Earns $3.2 million as the winner

• The second New Zealander to win The Open and first since Bob Charles at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1963

EDIT >> Canadian scores  Corey Conners T14 -4  71 67 71 67  ....Nick Taylor T59 +2  68 71 72 71

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Meanwhile, in Puntacana..England's Todd Clemens leads...Live leaderboard...Canadian scores..

   DP World/PGA Tours : Corales Puntacana Championship Leaderboard

Todd Clements will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Corales Puntacana Championship as he bids for a career-changing victory in the Dominican Republic.

The Englishman was one of 50 DP World Tour members in the field at the start of the week in an event that forms part of the Closing Swing and is played opposite to the Open Championship.

Halfway leader Clements continued his turnaround in form after a tough season so far as he made six birdies and one bogey in a-5 67 that saw him get to -18 and retained his two-shot cushion at the top of the leaderboard.

Already a DP World Tour winner, victory on Sunday at Puntacana Resort and Club would see the 29-year-old claim a PGA TOUR card and vault up the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World.

Ben James of the United States, who is making his fifth professional start, is his nearest challenger at -16 after he shot a 67 of his own.

Italy's Stefano Mazzoli, a graduate from the HotelPlanner Tour last season, shot a 66 and sits at -14 under alongside American pair Max McGreevy and Gordon Sargent.

EDIT >>>> Canadians:  AJ Ewart T16  6 69 68 -10,   Mac Hughes T27  66 72 69 -9.  (Hadwin, Pendrith, Svensson, Silverman all MC.)

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

The Sam Burns story as he leads 154th Open...

   DP World/PGA Tours : 154th Open Championship   Leaderboard Tee Times

Sam Burns is in pole position to win his first Major Championship after emerging from the chasing pack to take a two-shot lead into the final round at The 154th Open.

Sam Burns has two top tens in majors in 2026

The American entered the third round three shots adrift of 36-hole leader Lucas Herbert but produced an assured 65 to reach -10 at Royal Birkdale.

After a fast start helped him to turn in 31, the World #18 made birdies at each of the par fives on the back nine to put him on track to become the fourth consecutive player from the United States, and fifth in the last six years, to win the Claret Jug.

Ryan Fox earlier surged into contention with the third 62 in two days - a feat achieved by Herbert and Burns on Friday - to get to -8 where he was joined by Si Woo Kim after a 67 by the South Korean.

American Ryan Gerard, who is competing in his Open debut, is at -7 alongside Herbert of Australia, with Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler among 18 players within six shots of the lead.

Burns has knocked on the door before at golf's marquee championships, most recently at the U.S. Open last month when he finished one shot shy of countryman Wyndham Clark at Shinnecock Hills.

The 29-year-old was unsure he'd be able to compete at the final Major of the year but made the trip to England following the birth of his second child, Belle, earlier this month.

His 36-hole score of 127 across days two and three over the Southport links is the lowest total across any two rounds in men's Major Championship history.

Carrying across the momentum from his back-nine 30 on day two, he mixed accurate approach play with a hot putter to birdie the second and fourth.

A sublime tee shot at the seventh set up another birdie and he added another at the eighth, before an errant tee shot at the ninth resulted in his sole bogey of the day.

After a run of four consecutive pars to start the back nine, Burns holed from 30 feet to complete an up and down before a shot-of-the-day contender set up a sixth birdie of the round at the 17th.

"I think coming into the day, I was just trying to focus on executing and give myself as many looks as possible, and we did a good job of that," said Burns, whose last worldwide win came at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in March 2023.

"After finishing bogey, bogey, bogey on Thursday, I was pretty upset. That's an understatement.

"Came out Friday and had nothing to lose. I honestly feel like I played a pretty good round of golf for 15 holes on Thursday, and then just a really sloppy finish the last three. I feel like my game was in a good place.

"The game plan for Sunday will be just try to go out there and give myself as many looks as possible on the greens and see what happens."

For Fox and Kim, who could be Presidents Cup teammates later this year, a win would also mark a huge career breakthrough.

With the course still playing firm and fast, albeit with strengthening winds for the later starters, Gerard shot a 69 while overnight leader Herbert made back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th in a 71.

Åberg recovered from bogeying the opening hole to card a 67 to get to -6, with home hero Fleetwood also dreaming of a first Major triumph despite the disappointment of bogeying two of his final four holes in a 69 to head into the final round at -5.

DeChambeau, who was assessed a two-shot penalty on Friday, is the only player in the top ten on the leaderboard to have won a Major and the two-time U.S. Open champion is four back -6 after a 69, with Scheffler at -4 after a 70.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Sunday play underway. Live leaderboard.. Fox/Burns lead, hometown Tommy Fleetwood close

   DP World/PGA Tours : 154th Open Championship   Leaderboard Tee Times

It's another beautiful day in Southport for this final chapter in the 154th Open Championship, Mother Nature has been kind, Royal Birkdale left on her own has stood up to the world's best.

Only American Sam Burns, with some brilliant play has reached double digits -10, and he and Aussie Ryan Fox -8 have both had to shoot 62's to replicate the final pairing they shared at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open which took the Aussie with the "3 wood of his career" to decide the title after 4 playoff holes.

There are 7 players within 4 shots of Burns at -10, and there are 7 players within 3 of Fox /Kim at -8

However in the mix at -4 are 9 players including Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry and Scott Scheffler who will go out earlier and surely one or more of these elite will post another 62 or 63 to set the table.

Scheffler 68 68 70 has not had his A game, his putting has not been trustworthy at all, his vaunted iron play has been the same as many others in this pack, not exceptional. 

Rory has been worse, T29 -2 72, 67, 69. A big run by either would be a delight to all, especially the bean counters at Sky Sports or NBC/USA 

However the clear cut crowd favourite, and cinderella story at T9 69 67 69 -5 is hometown Tommy Fleetwood playing with fellow DP World Tour member from Denmark, Rasmus Neergaard Petersen 72 66 67 -5

Canadians are not in contention, both have had their moments. Corey Conners T42 71 67 71 -1 and Nick Taylor T66 68 71 72 +2

**** The two fastest players in this field, Ryan Fox by far and Ludvig Aberg are refreshing to watch and proof that the agonizingly slow set ups of so many are unnecessary.. (Matt Fitzpatrick MC gets honourable mention)

For all today's pairing click on my Tee Times link above.

Bryan Angus

Saturday TEE TIMES 154th Open Championship...

     DP World/PGA Tours : 154th Open Championship   Leaderboard Tee Times

Saturday morning has dawned over Royal Birkdale in Southport, the cut fell at +1, the pairings have been re grouped and are available above, the weather is the same, sunny. no rain, light morning breeze, getting up to 16km/h NW.

After all the Golf Channel over the top DeChambeau I won't play coverage, the petulant, self centered brat of course sent out a bedtime retraction and is in the field.

After the amazing 62's by Lucas Herbert, and quiet Sam Burns, the leaderboard (above) is set on Moving Day with lots of storylines. 

Lucas 1st at -8, with Jackson Suber standing tall T2 at -6 along with Cam Young and Ryan Gerard.

The -5s are DeChambeau, Burns and Kim, a whack of -4's include Tommy, Rahmbo and Scheffler.

Tommy set everyone in the UK, particularly Southport into ecstasy with his birdie barrage to finish with it all to play for, Scheffler will get all the US attention, Rory disappointing at -1 will have to make his run, Scotland's Bob MacIntyre -4 has his legions.

With little wind, sparse rough we all know what to expect but I will say Royal Birkdale with no howling wind to protect her has only given up 8 shot to par, a tribute all things considered.

The weather and therefore the course, has let everyone who made the cut a chance to go low. The worse the weather usually separates the men from the boys, but to my point who expected Lucas Herbert to set a record score of 28, from out of nowhere.

Canadians : Corey Conners T25 71 67 -2  Nick Taylor 38, 68 71 -1

Past winners on Royal Birkdale, I thought you'd like this list:

1954 Peter Thomson, 1961 Arnie Palmer, 1965 Peter Thomson, 1971 Lee Trevino, 1976 Johnny Miller, 

1983 Tom Watson, 1991 Ian Baker Finch, 1998 Mark O'Meara, 2008 Paddy Harrington, 2017 Jordan Spieth.

Notables missing the cut..

Justin Rose 75 68, Wyndham Clark 73 70, Viktor Hovland 70 74, Jason Day 71 73, Matt Fitzpatrick 72 72, Tom Kim 70 73, Aaron Rai 71 71, Jordan Spieth 73 77.....

Play got underway at 910am local, 410am est

Bryan Angus