Roger Chapman has been forced to withdraw from The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex due to a neck injury, putting paid to his attempt to become only the second man after Gary Player to complete a Senior Major Grand Slam.
After battling through the pain to contest in a fairy tale three-ball with Tom Watson and Greg Norman in Thursday’s first round, Chapman, who two weeks ago added the US Senior Open crown to the US Senior PGA Championship he won in May, was understandably saddened at having his historic bid derailed.
“I’m just so disappointed because history beckoned and I would love to have equalled Gary Player’s record and I felt like I could have done well round here,” said the Englishman.
“There was so much riding on it but at least I had a shot at doing something. It's just too bad. I had a painkiller and an injection about an hour ago and that really hasn't kicked in much, I’m still restricted on the swing.”
Chapman worked hard on Thursday to complete a two over par 72 despite being in some discomfort, but the experience of playing with legendary figures Watson and Norman was one the 53 year old said he wouldn’t forget as he highlighted his new season targets after the withdrawal.
“It was great. We were chatting down the fairway, it was just like a Sunday morning three-ball! There’s still a lot to play for for me this year, I still want to win the Order of Merit over here, and wouldn't mind winning the Order of Merit over there too.”
Next up for Chapman is the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in two weeks’ time, a tournament he qualified for after the first of his Senior Major successes earlier this year when he captured the US Senior PGA at Harbor Shores in Michigan.
Gary Player remains the only man ever to have won the US Senior PGA Championship, US Senior Open, and The Senior Open Championship in the same season, having completed the extraordinary feat in 1988.
