Simon P Brown returns to the scene of one of his triumphs when he tees up in this week’s Dutch Senior Open at The International near Amsterdam.
The German-based Englishman is up against a strong field that includes past Ryder Cup captains Mark James, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam and former Ryder Cup players Gordon J Brand, Gordon Brand Jnr, Antonio Garrido, Manuel Piñero, Barry Lane, Ronan Rafferty and Philip Walton.
Philip Golding also takes part after winning last week’s French Riviera Masters at the Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort, as does Ireland’s Des Smyth, who finished tied 22nd in Provence just a few days after being part of Paul McGinley’s backroom staff at The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
Brown arrived at last year’s Dutch Senior Open bidding for a double after winning his maiden European Senior Tour title at the Russian Open Golf Championship (Senior), and he proceeded to lead the field after opening rounds of 71 and 72 before the last round was washed out when torrential rain flooded the course.
“I was fortunate to win in those circumstances, but I had played pretty well over the first two days and sometimes you just have to ride your luck.
“There was certainly no way we could have played that day because the weather was horrendous, and it would have been a complete lottery for all the players.
“It was a real shame, because it’s a good design. It’s actually a very difficult course. All the greens are slightly raised. There’s a lot of run off areas so there is a big premium on hitting accurate approach shots, because if you get it wrong you will struggle to get up-and-down.”
Brown was hampered by injury earlier this season but arrives in Amsterdam in a good frame of mind, having finished tied eighth in both the WINSTONgolf Senior Open in Germany and last week at the five star resort at Terre Blanche.
“I have had a problem with a foot injury and that caused me all sorts of problems earlier in the season,” he revealed.
“It has been quite frustrating because I have actually been playing quite well, but have been struggling to get round the course. The Travis Perkins Senior Masters at Woburn was the low point. It was an absolute disaster. I was in a terrible state, but the last few weeks have been much better.
“I have changed my medication and have been doing a lot of physio and I’m definitely on the mend. I looking forward to getting back to The International and seeing if I can repeat last year’s win.”
Brown’s nearest challenger last year was Scotland’s Ross Drummond, and he also has fond memories of the course.
Drummond said: “It’s very long and tough. It’s has a links look about it but it didn’t play like a links because it wasn’t fast running. It was all through the air.
“I’m looking forward to going back and just hope the conditions are better than last year. It would have been a great opportunity for me to claim a first Senior Tour title, but it wasn’t to be.
“The weather was terrible and it certainly wasn’t playable. It would have been a travesty if we had gone out in that.”
Spain’s José Manuel Carriles, Paul Eales of England and Frenchman Marc Farry all finished in a tie for third place 12 months ago and all three are in this week’s field.
Spain’s Santiago Luna, Canada’s Rick Gibson, England’s Mark Davis, Argentina’s Cesar Monasterio and America’s Tim Thelen are the other 2014 winners in the field.
Dutch football legends Ruud Gullit and Ronald de Boer are two of the celebrities taking part in the Pro-Am part of the championship. The first two rounds are played in a Pro-Am format, with each professional partnering one amateur player, but only the professionals play in the final round.
