Sport

Player takes title from Bland in play-off

A little meditation and a bit of prayer works wonders when you get older

Mon Jul 28 1997 - 01:00

A little meditation and a bit of prayer works wonders when you get older. That's the philosphy of Gary Player who yesterday won the £375,000 British Seniors' Open Championship at Royal Portrush after a sudden death play-off with fellow South African John Bland. Player becomes the first man to win the title three times and yesterday's success was his ninth on the seniors' circuit to match his younger performances on the regular tour.

"It was my ambition to win nine times on the seniors' tour and match my nine wins on the regular tour but nearing 62 I felt that time was running out. At my age I feared that nerves would get to me but last night I slept for 10 hours and this morning meditated and prayed a little. That calmed me," revealed Player who picked up a cheque for £58,330 plus a further £3,000 as first prize for the over 60s.

However, he was made to work for his money as he came from two shots behind Bland at the start of the day and then found himself in a four-way tie with Bland, Noel Ratcliffe and Jim Rhodes with just five holes of the round remaining. Rhodes and Ratcliffe fell by the wayside, however - Rhodes losing pace by the time the others had reached 17 and Ratcliffe suffering a disastrous approach shot on the 18th - leaving the way clear for a Bland-Player play-off.

The first tie-hole was the 18th and the two South Africans made safe pars but a poor drive off the 17th tee eventually cost Bland the honours. He took three to the green with Player on in two, 15 feet from the flag. After Bland had taken two putts to par, Player sank his putt for a championship-winning birdie.

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Paul Leonard finished best of the Irish handing in a 69 for 285 but was disappointed at three-putting the last hole.

"A drive into rough cost me that extra shot. I could only get to the front and I was always going to make three from there," explained Leonard who finished 10th for £6,720.

Five birdies decorated his card after shooting off with a 15 feet birdie putt at the first hole. He also trimmed the 5th, 10th, 11th and 16th and apart from the 18th lost a stroke at the fourth where he got a bad lie in rough. Best round by an Irishman was recorded yesterday by David Jones who recorded a 67 for a one-under-par total of 287 and joint 15th. "I learned a lot from Saturday's round and it's nice to finish with a good score.