Peter Mitchell is hoping his reputation as a man for the big occasion will inspire a successful defence of the Casa Serena Open in the Czech Republic this week.
Mitchell has won some of the richest events on the Senior Tour circuit over the past three seasons, picking up €94,000 for his win at the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open and then €43,000 at the Scottish Senior Open in 2008.
He followed those lucrative wins by taking the big €90,000 prize here at Casa Serena Golf last year and is hopeful that he can fly home on Monday with another cheque to deposit in the bank.
“I seem to do well in the big money events, which is a very nice habit to get into,” said Mitchell. “A lot of the other players often tell me I only play well when there is big money on offer so I hope they remember that this week!
“It’s great to be back here at Casa Serena – it really is a beautiful part of the world and I would love to play well here again this week and have a real go at defending the title.”
Mitchell has endured a tough season so far in 2010 and has only recently found a set of golf clubs that he feels comfortable with.
The 52 year old Londoner has also had to adjust to life as an asthma sufferer in the past 12 months but arguably his toughest battle this year has been coping with the problem that caused his asthma in the first place – an allergy to wine.
“I have only just found a set of clubs that really suit me but I have only has them for three weeks so I am still trying to find the right shafts and get them to a point that I am comfortable with,” said Mitchell.
“But who knows what can happen – it can change in a heartbeat in this game and I know that if I can get myself into this tournament then I will have a chance. This golf course is set up for ball strikers and I know that I can do that, so if I can find that little spark in form then I know I will be up there at the top of the leaderboard.
“But, as I said it has been a strange year and anyone who knows me will know that for me to be allergic to wine is basically a disaster!” he smiled.
“It’s been a tough year for me with the asthma and then discovering that the asthma was caused by the allergy to wine but I am on top of it now and if I can defend this title then I can enjoy a couple of beers instead of the wine.”
There are plenty of the Senior Tour’s finest in attendance at Casa Serena Golf looking to spoil Mitchell’s title defence, including Boonchu Ruangkit, Chris Williams and Angel Franco who can all overhaul Bernhard Langer at the top of the Order of Merit by scooping that €90,000 top prize.
Also in the Czech Republic is former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance as well as recent Senior Tour champions Barry Lane and Des Smyth, while Carl Mason – who finished fifth to Mitchell last year at Casa Serena – will continue his quest for a 24th title that would make him the most successful player in European Senior Tour history.
