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Sep 26th, 2015
The British Masters Is Back!!!
Star Studded field to play Woburn
Words: Tim Southwell Photography: Getty Images
At last, a European Tour event in England!! And a really, really, good line up: The British Masters is hosted by Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter and will see a star studded field take to the Woburn course on October 8th.
Guess What's Back?!
The Masters started in 1946 and was won that year by Bobby Locke & Scotland's Jimmy Adams (A tie). It was played every year (except 1984) thereafter, but was last played in 2008 when Gonzalo Fernandez Castano won a play off on the third extra hole against former winner Lee Westwood.
The British Masters has been won by such illustrious names as Tony Jacklin, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Seve, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance in the past.
Do yourself a favour. Check out Lee Trevino's win here with BBC Golf host back in the day, Harry Carpenter: These were simpler times... (Steady on, Grandad! - Ed) ... the boys were off on that new fangled Concorde to the US Open straight after this.
So good to have it back! Autumn in the air, the sound of clubs clanking, the polite appluase from a gallery, the whiff of the caddies' fags and the option of warming yourself up in the clubhouse with a hot toddy and sampi & chips. Ahhhh, Autumn golf, bring it on.
Not sure how many extra jumpers to put in the bag this week will be major winners Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and YE Yang are all in the field, which also includes future tournament hosts and former world No 1s Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.
McDowell said: "Having the British Masters back on our schedule, on the back of the return of the Porsche European Open, is another big step in the right direction for The European Tour.
"I've spent some time with Keith Pelley (European Tour CEO) and I think we've got an exciting, strong leader to take us forward, and it is obviously great having Sky Sports on board too.
And for my next trick...
"I've not been to Woburn in about 10 years so it is exciting to be back and we are all behind the return of the British Masters. Woburn is a great traditional, tree-lined course, and I know Ian Poulter will be a fantastic host, so it should be a superb week."
McDowell and Poulter aren't the only Ryder Cup stars to be playing Woburn either, with fellow team-mates Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher all lining up for the Masters
"Iz good forrr youooo izz good forrr mee"
"It's great to have the British Masters back on the schedule," said Gallacher, whose uncle Bernard captured back-to-back British Masters titles in 1974 and 1975.
Donaldson said: "I heard that the first day is already sold out, so that's an indication of how popular golf events are in the UK and how much people have been looking forward to having another big tournament.
"I really like Woburn as a course, it's great. It's tree-lined, tight, and a traditional British course. I'm really looking forward to playing the British Masters there again.
Eddie Pepperell, one of an expanding group of emerging English talent, was in his teens when the British Masters last figured on The European Tour, and he said: "I never even watched it, let alone played in it, so it'll be great to have the opportunity to be part of it this year.
"I hear Y.E. Yang's gonna be there."
"That is well wicked, brethrin!"
"It's just great to have another event in the UK for us British guys. Events in Britain are always well supported, and with it being quite close to where I live - only an hour or so by car - it'll be great for my family and friends to have a rare chance to come and watch me. I've had quite a few ticket requests, and it'll be great to have extra support."
Since its return was announced in March, the tournament has proved a big hit with the British public, with the opening round of the tournament a complete sell-out following the "Sky Sports Thursday" promotion, which offered 15,000 free tickets as part of the event's aim to attract a new and existing audience to golf.
Well, we're in left-right-centre and hook-lined with the sinkers. See you there!!
Tickets for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports can be purchased online via http://tickets.sky.com/Golf/British-Masters or www.europeantourtickets.com or via the European Tour ticket hotline 0800 023 2557.
