Sunningdale Golf Club will host The Senior Open Presented by Rolex for the third time when Europe’s only Senior Major Championship returns in 2020.

The Old Course at Sunningdale first hosted The Senior Open in 2009, when America’s Loren Roberts defeated compatriot Fred Funk and Ireland’s Mark McNulty in a play-off. Another American, Marco Dawson, was triumphant when the Senior Major returned in 2015, finishing one stroke ahead of Bernhard Langer.

In addition to two Senior Opens, Sunningdale has also hosted the British Masters, the European Open, The Seve Trophy, The Walker Cup, AIG Women’s British Open and has been a qualifying venue for The Open.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said: “The Senior Open continues to grow in stature and Sunningdale will be an outstanding venue for the 2020 championship. The top senior players in the world will relish the challenge presented by the Old Course at Sunningdale and we can look forward to an excellent week of world class golf.”

David MacLaren, European Tour Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Head of the Staysure Tour, said: “We are very pleased to announce The Senior Open Presented by Rolex’s return to the incredible Old Course at Sunningdale.

“The Senior Open offers us the unique opportunity to visit both traditional Open-rota venues and other world-class golf courses in the British Isles. Sunningdale is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the world, not just the United Kingdom, and we are all looking forward to returning next year.”

Among those who will be eligible to compete in their first Senior Opens are five-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson, 2003 U.S. Open champion and 2018 Team USA Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk and 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir.

Nick Howe, Chairman of the Tournament Committee at Sunningdale Golf Club, said: ‘’We are delighted that The Senior Open is returning to Sunningdale in 2020. It is the third time we will have held this prestigious event and we are very much looking forward to hosting the best senior golfers in the world and seeing how they navigate the challenges of The Old Course, now ranked the number one course in England.’’

© Kevin Diss