Victorious Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance was at The De Vere Belfry on Wednesday 12th March, to launch the 33rd Benson and Hedges International Open.
The tournament, which is the first European Tour event in the UK golfing calendar, will see the world’’s top golfers battle it out for the £1.1 million prize fund.
British stars Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, plus Ryder Cup heroes Paul McGinley and Padriag Harrington will all be in the field. Adding to the International flavour will be Volvo Order of Merit winner Retief Goosen, Thomas Bjorn and 1991 and 1997 winner Bernhard Langer.
Torrance, who admitted it was emotional returning to the scene of the European Ryder Cup triumph said: “It’’s a very happy return for me here. As we pulled into the entrance it really gave me goose bumps.
“That week, the players were simply outstanding and the golf played was second to none. As Captain, my job was to make the players relaxed but focused on their game. It was important that each player felt part of the team, all 12 were competing against the Americans.”
The Benson and Hedges International Open is in its last year due to the ban on tobacco sponsorship and Torrance has played in 30 out of the last 32 years. He did not qualify in 1971 when Tony Jacklin took the title and in 1988 he made a dramatic dash up to Glasgow after hearing the news that his wife had gone into labour prematurely.
“I remember getting the call that my son Daniel was about to arrive early. I jumped straight in the courtesy car and went back up to Scotland.
“I have many memories from the Benson and Hedges International Open. Winning in 1984 is an obvious one, but also missing the cut in 1988 when I led after the first two rounds!
“I’’m really looking forward to playing in the Benson and Hedges International Open and it will be great to see so many of the past winners. These sponsors are good people and it’’s a special tournament for the players – one of the best run on the Tour.
“It will be very sad when the final putt is sunk on Sunday afternoon as the players know they will not return to compete in one of Europe’’s most famous tournaments.”
To celebrate the final tournament, Benson and Hedges are delighted to welcome back several past Champions for a five hole competition on Tuesday 6th May. Already confirmed is the first ever winner Tony Jacklin, Spaniard Antonio Garrido, Australian Jack Newton, Scotland’’s Sandy Lyle, 1994 winner Seve Ballesteros and Ryder Cup Captain and 1984 winner Sam Torrance.
Torrance is especially looking forward to seeing Aussie Jack Newton: “Jack is a great guy, a real larger than life character. I really used to enjoy playing against him.
“How he came through that horrific accident when the propeller tore into his guts and ripped off an arm I’’ll never know. But he still enjoys life to the full and rumour has it he now swings a club better with one hand than with two!”
Benson and Hedges Tournament Director, Jim Elkins, who has been involved since it began at Fulford Golf Club in 1971, believes this year will have something special in store.
“There have been so many dramatic moments over the years and too many tense finishes to remember. Gordon Brand Jnr eagling the last hole to snatch the title by one shot in 1989, and I can clearly recall a young Ballesteros shooting a first round of 64 back in 1975. Though perhaps the most bizarre moment was in 1981 when Langer decided to climb that tree on the 17th – I don’’t think we’’ll ever see that again!”
“The support for the tournament among golf fans has always been fantastic and with this being our last year we hope it will be a full house at The De Vere Belfry. We have an excellent field of players and hopefully a few more big names to join them. With the Past Champions Challenge, the Celebrity Pro Am, plus we have teamed up with BRMB who will be staging a music road show on 6th May – it is sure to be a real celebration to mark the last ever Benson and Hedges International Open.”
