Fame, they say, comes in many guises. Even this humble correspondent once heard someone muttering, “look, there’s that bastion of the Herald” …. or words to that effect.
Since reaching his half century last year, Paul Broadhurst, the popular, down to earth Midlander, has flourished in his fifties but a couple of golfing conquests still doesn’t mean he’ll be getting mobbed on Atherstone High Street. Or anywhere else for that matter. “I was in one of those DIY places recently and somebody in the car park stopped me and said ‘Senior British Open Champion, fantastic’. But I’ll still be unrecognised in most places.”
Here at Archerfield Links, Broadhurst is a well kent face. His victory at the East Lothian venue on his debut among the golden oldies in last season’s Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open teed-off this career renaissance. The 51-year-old is back to defend his title over the next couple of days but he is also now the Senior British Open champion , having won that major crown at Carnoustie last month.
The success there barged open a series of doors for the former Ryder Cup player and he now has an exemption for the highly lucrative Champions Tour on the other side of the Atlantic which he used to compete in last week’s US Senior Open. So was he ushered on to the tee with great pomp and ceremony? Not quite. “There was very little reference to it to be honest and I wasn’t announced on the first as Senior Open champion,” added Broadhurst with a wry grin. “I wasn’t even a TV draw. I was on the opposite side of the draw for the TV coverage. The win doesn’t have much effect over there.”
Among his peers on the over-50s scene, however, Broadhurst’s Senior Open success has earned him plenty of praise, plaudits and pats on the back. A stalwart of the regular European Tour for almost 25 years, the Englishman is now preparing himself for a potentially profitable, if somewhat taxing, period of transatlantic travel over the next few weeks. While still keen to support the European Senior Tour, the lure of cash-laden competition among the auld yins in America is too strong to turn down. With purses regularly topping the $2 million mark, it’s a gravy boat which Broadhurst is keen to dip his bread in.
“The schedule’s not bad and it’s two weeks on and a week off, then two weeks on and a week off, so I’m going to be commuting back and forward,” he said. “I’ve played only seven events all year and now I’ll be playing nine in the space of 12 weeks. It’s a tall order but I’ve got to do it. I’ve got to give myself a chance. Since winning the British Open, it’s all been a bit manic. It’s been quite a life changer and I’m still coming to terms with it. The replica trophy arrived the week before I went to the US Open so that helped it sink in a bit. But it’s a British Open isn’t it? Things like that don’t happen to me. I’ve never been a big time Charlie. I’m a Midlands lad who has won a couple of tournaments.”
Broadhurst is joined at Archerfield this week by some other lads who have won a couple of tournaments down the years. Sam Torrance, one of Europe’s Ryder Cup vice-captains for next month’s match, is back in action as is the former Masters champion Ian Woosnam, who finished fourth in the US Senior Open last weekend.
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