Bob May returns from the United States this week to defend the Victor Chandler British Masters title he won at Woburn Golf and Country Club last year.
The 31 year old from Las Vegas made his breakthrough in the inaugural event sponsored by bookmaker Victor Chandler over the famous Duke's Course, before going on to gain his card to play on his native American Tour.
Now he is back in Europe for his sixth start of the season, hoping to emulate his performance last year when he compiled rounds of 69, 67, 66 and 67 for a 19 under par total of 269 and a one stroke winning margin over defending champion Colin Montgomerie.
May, a member of the 1991 United States Walker Cup team, trailed Montgomerie by three shots going into the final round but turned that deficit into a narrow win. He commented: "It feels incredible. I consider Colin to be one of the best players in the world, of not the best. I will certainly never forget the Victor Chandler British Masters."
May, in addition to the title, also went home as the proud owner of a racehorse for a year, thanks to an albatross two he made en route to victory. Once again this week, the same prize will be available, including all training fees courtesy of Victor Chandler, for the first albatross at the 514 yard 18th.
Woburn was the home of the Victor Chandler British Masters between 1985 and 1994, when the roll of honour included Lee Trevino, Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo.
Four previous Woburn champions, Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Mark McNulty and Peter Baker, will all be re-acquainting themselves with the superb Buckinghamshire venue which staged some stirring contests in the past.
Also in the strong field are 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie; Bernhard Langer, who won the title at St.Pierre in 1980, Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, and a host of tournament winners on the European Tour in the 2000 season along with one of the most prominent runners-up, Thomas Björn of Denmark, who did wonderfully well in the Open Championship at St.Andrews.
Woburn Golf and Country Club has hosted 13 of the 53 editions of the British Masters and with the recent opening of The Marquess course, the club has become one of the few 54-hole venues in the United Kingdom.
