Paul Broadhurst lands his ‘special’ second major
Paul Broadhurst hailed a ‘special week’ after clinching the second senior golf major of his career.
The 52-year-old dominated the final day of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship to win by four strokes – following in the footsteps of former champions Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer.
And after shooting rounds of 72, 66, 64 and 63, there was only one regret.
“I just wish I was playing like this on the main tour 20 years ago,” said Broadhurst, who took home a cool first prize of almost £700,000.
The Walsall golfer – who won the Senior Open at Carnoustie in 2016 – started the final round two shots behind, but stormed through to lead by three going down the last.
And he finished the day in style with a 40 foot birdie putt, reaching a joint-Championship record low 72-hole total of 19 under par and signing for a tournament-low round of eight-under-par 63, one better than his seven-under-par 64 the previous day.
“To see it go in the middle of the hole on the last was just a special feeling to finish a tournament off like that,” said Broadhurst.
Reflecting on his slow start to the tournament, he added: “I didn’t play too badly the first day, I just didn’t make any putts. I just hit a poor shot there on number 14 and made double and that was it, one-over.
“I guess you think you’re out of the tournament, but when I won the Senior Open in Carnoustie I started with a 75, so you never are out of it.
“I was playing catch-up and it was important that I got off to a good start Friday, which I did, birdied three of the first four holes and I managed to continue that good form over the weekend. It’s not very often you shoot 66 on a Friday, better it Saturday and then better that Sunday. So yeah, it’s been a special week.
“Once I got into the round I started to relax a little bit and it was only, I guess when I finished the front that you, I wouldn’t say tense up, but you know you got something to lose.”
American Tim Petrovic finished four shots back in second, with fellow countrymen Jerry Kelly and Scott McCarron tied third a shot further back.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez was fifth, with Montgomerie and South African Chris Williams tied for sixth.
