1998 Senior British Open

The 1998 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the 12th British Senior Open Championship, held from 6 to 9 August at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

1998 Senior British Open
Tournament information
Dates6–9 August 1998
LocationPortrush, County Antrim,
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635
Course(s)Royal Portrush Golf Club
Dunluce Links
Organised byThe R&A
Tour(s)
Format72 holes stroke play
Statistics
Par72
Length6,690 yd (6,120 m)
Field113 players, 61 after cut
Cut152 (+8)
Prize fund€372,903
Winner's share€84,000
Champion
Wales Brian Huggett
283 (−5)
Location Map
Royal Portrush GC is located in Europe
Royal Portrush GC
Royal Portrush GC
Location in Europe
Royal Portrush GC is located in the United Kingdom
Royal Portrush GC
Royal Portrush GC
Location in the United Kingdom
Royal Portrush GC is located in island of Ireland
Royal Portrush GC
Royal Portrush GC
Location in Ireland
Royal Portrush GC is located in Northern Ireland
Royal Portrush GC
Royal Portrush GC
Location in Northern Ireland

In 2018, the tournament was, as all Senior British Open Championships played 1987–2002, retroactively recognized as a senior major golf championship and a PGA Tour Champions (at the time named the Senior PGA Tour) event.[1]

Brian Huggett won in a playoff over Eddie Polland to win his first Senior British Open title and first senior major championship victory.[2][3]

Venue
Main article: Royal Portrush Golf Club

The event was the fourth Senior Open Championship in a row held at Royal Portrush Golf Club.[4]

Royal Portrush GC 5th hole

Field

113 professionals, no amateurs, entered the competition. One of them withdraw and one was disqualified. 61 players made the 36-hole cut.

Past champions in the field

Six past Senior British Open champions participated. All of them made the 36-hole cut.

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Brian Barnes England1995, 199670736873284−43
Bob Charles New Zealand1989, 199375737370291+3T9
Gary Player South Africa1988, 1990, 199770757275292+4T12
Neil Coles England198774747373294+6T21
Bobby Verwey  South Africa 1991 73 73 75 77 298 +10 T32
John Fourie  South Africa 1992 75 74 75 77 301 +13 T47

Past winners and runners-up at The Open Championship in the field

The field included three former winners of The Open Championship, Bob Charles (tied 9th), Gary Player (tied 12th) and Tony Jacklin (missed cut).

The field also included three former runners-up at The Open Championship; Brian Huggett (won), Neil Coles (tied 21st) and Christy O'Connor Snr (tied 41st).

Final round and playoff summaries

Final round

Sunday, 9 August 1998

Brian Huggett and Eddie Polland tied the lead after the fourth round, to meet in a sudden death playoff, to decide the winner. Brian Barnes birdied the 15th and 17th holes to move within a shot of the leaders and had a 20 foot putt on the 18th green to tie, but missed it and finished a shot from the playoff. Defending champion Gary Player finished tied 12th nine shots behind the leaders.

Place Player Score To par Money (€)
T1 Wales Brian Huggett 71-70-71-71=283 −5 Playoff
Northern Ireland Eddie Polland 71-71-71-70=283
3 Scotland Brian Barnes 70-73-68-73=284 −4 30,800
4 Australia Noel Ratcliffe 74-71-71-69=285 −3 25,202
T5 Australia Terry Gale 70-70-75-71=286 −2 18,165
England Malcolm Gregson 76-71-72-67=286
England Tommy Horton 72-68-69-77=286
Republic of Ireland Denis O'Sullivan 71-73-71-71=286
T9 New Zealand Bob Charles 75-73-73-70=291 +3 13,580
Northern Ireland David Jones 69-77-71-74=291
Northern Ireland Paul Leonard 72-74-70-75=291

Playoff

Sunday, 9 August 1998

The sudden-death playoff went on the par-4 18th hole, to be played until one of the players had a lower score on the hole than the other. 61-year-old Brian Huggett beat Eddie Polland with a par at the first extra hole. Polland missed the green on the right side with his second shot and, after chipping in to the green, missed his putt from nine feet.

PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney (€)
1Wales Brian Huggett4E84,000
2Northern Ireland Eddie Polland5+153,200

Sources:[2][5][6]

References
  1. "The Senior Open Championship". The R&A. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. "Brian Huggett wins". European Tour. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  3. "Senior British Open Results". European Tour. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  4. "Senior British Open – Course Card". European Tour. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  5. "Polland is pipped again by Huggett". The Irish Times. 10 August 1998. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. "Polland in Open play-off agony". independent.ie. 10 August 1998. Retrieved 18 March 2022.

55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635

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