RYDER CUP WALES SENIORS OPEN
Venue: Royal Porthcawl Date: 19 - 21 June First Tee-off: 0740 BST

Ian Woosnam won two European Tour events in his home-land of Wales

Ian Woosnam hopes some home comforts will inspire him to success at the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open.

The former world number one will star alongside former Ryder Cup stars Gordon J Brand, Costantino Rocca and Sam Torrance at Royal Porthcawl this week.

Woosnam was second to Peter Mitchell at Conwy last year and hopes for a fourth seniors tour title on the links course.

"It will be a tremendous course and it will be a great test for all of us on the Senior Tour," said Woosnam.

The Welshman was captain at the 2006 Ryder Cup and he inspired the European team to glory at The K Club.

Now Woosnam hopes to beat some old Ryder Cup team-mates and add a Welsh senior tour crown to European Tour victories won in his home-land during his heyday.

The 51-year-old won the 1983 British Masters and the 1990 Epson Grand Prix of Europe at St Pierre near Chepstow among his 29 European Tour International Schedule titles.

And the 1991 Masters champion showed his competitive hunger with victory in the Irish Seniors Open title a fortnight ago - which added to his Russian and Polish wins last year.

Woosnam showed at Ballybunion in Ireland that he still can tame links courses and is desperate to win by the sea in Wales at the £500,000 event.

It will be great to return to Wales as defending champion Reigning champion Peter Mitchell

"It's the same at Turnberry, Troon, Lytham or wherever," recalled Woosnam.

"I don't have a clear picture until I stand on the tee and suddenly everything clicks into place and I know where I am going again.

"To be honest, I haven't played Porthcawl for a while and I am really looking forward to getting back there and re-acquainting myself with the layout.

"Naturally, I remember it being a tremendous course and it will be a great test for all of us on the Senior Tour.

"My last visit there was for an exhibition match a number of years ago and, if my memory serves correctly, I played with Brian Huggett and Ian Botham.

"One thing I do know is that I shot 61 with a five at the last. You don't forget that sort of score! I would happily repeat that this week."

Des Smyth and Gordon Brand Jnr return to Royal Porthcawl at the course where they won the Welsh Golf Classic on The European Tour in 1981 and 1982 respectively.

Defending champion Peter Mitchell, who resisted Woosnam's challenge in Wales last year to win his maiden Senior Tour title in his second event, will also chase the £75,000 first prize.

"It will be great to return to Wales as defending champion," he said.

"I've not played Royal Porthcawl for a long time. The last time was when we played it as a European Tour event a long time ago but I remember it being a very good golf course and a very pretty little town.

"Last year was great. A lot of people came out to support us, I think there must have been about 5,000 people at one point, so to win was lovely.

"It was my first victory so it was special but I've still got my eye on picking up some wins this year."

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