1997 Senior British Open
The 1997 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the 11th British Senior Open Championship, held from 24 to 27 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. In 2018, the tournament was, as all Senior British Open Championships played 1987–2002, retroactively recognized as a senior major golf championship and a PGA Tour Champions (at the time named the Senior PGA Tour) event. 62-year-old Gary Player won in a playoff over John Bland to win his third Senior British Open  title and ninth senior major championship victory. Venue. The event was the third Senior Open Championship in a row held at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Final round and playoff summaries. Final round. "Sunday, 27 July 1997" Gary Player, South Africa and his fellow countryman John Bland tied the lead after the fourth round, to meet in a sudden death playoff, to decide the winner. Player scored a bogey-free 68 in the final round, to catch up Bland, who led by two strokes before the final round. Noel Ratcliffe scored a bogey 5 on the 18th hole of the final  round to came one shot short of joining the playoff. Defending champion Brian Barnes withdraw from the tournament after a first round 2-under-par 70 on Thursday. Playoff. "Sunday, 27 July 1997" The sudden-death playoff went on, to be played until one of the players had a lower score on the hole than the other. Gary Player beat John Bland with a birdie at the second extra hole, the par 5 17th hole, by holing a 15-foot putt.