By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
in St Andrews
After an eight month absence, Sam Torrance returns to golf in familiar surroundings as the Fairmont St Andrews course designer makes his competitive comeback at the SSE Scottish Senior Open.
This week will represent the Scotsman’s first start since the season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius in December 2013 after spending much of the last year with father and former coach Bob, who sadly passed away in July after a long battle with lung cancer.
Torrance Senior was a world-renowned golf swing tutor, famous for his work with two-time Open Champion Padraig Harrington and 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley amongst others, as well as a constant inspiration to his son, who said it was a bittersweet return this week in St Andrews.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to be back but I haven’t played for a long time so I have no great aspirations this week,” said three-time Senior Tour Number One Torrance.
“I don’t know whether it will help to take my mind off things being my first day back but it hasn’t helped so far to be honest – I’m really just getting by.
“But I’ll just go out there and try to enjoy myself and enjoy this great course.”
Twelve months ago, Torrance, who designed the championship course at Fairmont St Andrews with Denis Griffiths and the late Gene Sarazen, pushed eventual winner Santiago Luna all the way to the line before coming up one shot short of the Spaniard following a closing 72.
Overlooking St Andrews Bay and the historic old town and with spectacular views across to the Angus coast and Carnoustie, the Torrance course is undoubtedly picturesque but also has the tools to test the Senior Tour’s very best this week.
“It’s a fantastic links golf course with holes going in all sorts of different directions,” continued Torrance, the last Scot to win his national Senior Open back in 2006. “The greens are out of this world and probably some of the best you’ll get in Scotland.
“The 17th is the signature hole and by far, in my opinion the best on the course. You have the sea and out of bounds down the right and a lot of rough down the left so the tee shot is very tough and then when you get to your second there is more nasty stuff to play over so it’s a real test but a stunning golf hole.”
Torrance will play a key role in European Captain McGinley’s back-room staff at the upcoming transatlantic clash at Gleneagles, and is joined in the Scottish Senior Open field this week by fellow Ryder Cup Vice Captain Des Smyth.
“It’s always nice to be back in St Andrews,” said Smyth, who won the 1988 Alfred Dunhill Cup on the Old Course in 1988. “I was down there yesterday having a walk around the old hallowed ground and there is nowhere else like this place in the world.
“I’ve played here many times and it’s an excellent golf course and always in great condition. We’ve been here a number of times and we all love the venue with the hotel sitting in the middle of the golf course, the range next door; it’s a great facility and a great place for a golf tournament.”