ANGUS, Scotland — Widely held to be the toughest finishing stretch in all of golf, Carnoustie’s brutal closing holes were yet again the keys to defeat and victory in the Senior Open Championship. As his three nearest challengers—Scott McCarron, Magnus Atlevi and Miguel Angel Jiménez—all played the last four in two over par, new champion Paul Broadhurst was three shots better, making a birdie and three pars to finish off a bogey-free four-under 68, clinch a two-stroke win over McCarron and claim the €251,485 winner’s check. Other goodies will be coming the way of the 50-year-old Englishman, one of 27 men to have shot a round of 63 in a major championship (1990 Open at St. Andrews). Not only will Broadhurst be exempt on the Champions Tour through the end of 2017, the former European Tour Ryder Cup player will play in next year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Little wonder then that he was emotional after holing the putt that left him 11 under par for the.
“This is massive, absolutely massive” said Broadhurst, a six-time European Tour winner who began the week with a 75 but played the last 45 holes in 14 under par with his 19-year-old son, Sam, acting as caddie. “I’m not aware of how big it is yet, beyond my wildest dreams. I’m trying not to think about it. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to players like me normally. I’ve won a few tournaments over the years, but nothing anywhere near as big as this event. I feel very, very privileged.”
Jimenez held the 54-hole lead, but closed with a 75 including a double bogey on the last hole to finish tied for third, three strokes back. McCarron had five birdies on his first 13 holes Sunday, but finished with three-under 69 after bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes.