Update - Sam Torrance - OUR Ambassador
Sam Torrance OBE is Mr Golf and has graced the professional circuit for over 35 years. Coached by his father Bob, Sam became a professional at just 16, starting out on tour 12 months later, making his first cut after just nine events.
With 21 European Tour titles spread over three decades, Sam was a key member of the tour and became firm favourite with golfers and spectators.
2003 saw Sam and his broom handle putter switch to the Seniors Tour, securing his first victory after just six events, winning the 2004 Travis Perkins Senior Masters.
Further success continued with the pinnacle coming in 2005 when he topped the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit.
Sam has always been a great leader and that leadership guided Europe to Ryder Cup triumph – earning Sam the praise and respect of golf fans throughout the world but also his second visit to the Palace where his 1996 MBE was eclipsed by the OBE in 2003.
Sam's Wishlist For 2009
1) Tiger Woods returning to the game
Let's be honest, golf has missed the great man since he underwent surgery on his left knee just after what had to be one of the most exciting US Opens of all time last June. Which is hardly surprising, of course. Tiger, after all, is the greatest golfer that has ever lived.
It won't just be the fans who have missed watching Tiger in action. I'm certain the game's sponsors will be looking forward to his return, hopefully before the Masters at Augusta National in April. As the biggest draw in the game, the 14-time major champion enhances golf like no other player has ever done. His economic impact has been enormous. I so want to see him back as soon as possible.
2) Sergio Garcia to win a major championship
Should Tiger make it back to somewhere near his competitive best by the Masters, anyone else winning a major championship is going to be harder than ever. But, given how well he has played over the last couple of seasons, no one deserves to win one of golf's four biggest events more than Sergio.
Garcia is a truly great player, possibly Europe's best. He's certainly as good a striker of the ball as anyone. I go back and forth on whether he is better than Padraig Harrington. The Irishman is the full package, having already own three majors. He's made the breakthrough. And Sergio has yet to find that final piece of the jigsaw. He just has to learn how to win a major. So far, he's done everything but that. I'll be rooting for him in 2009.
3) A great week at the Open Championship
As a proud Ayrshireman, I'm a little biased here, but is there anywhere in the world more photogenic than the Ailsa links at Turnberry? I think not. Not only that, this is a great test of golf, one that has already produced some of the game's greatest moments.
Let's face it, perhaps the greatest ever Open was played at Turnberry in 1977 when Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson went at it in what became known as the "Duel in the Sun." Then there was Greg Norman's first Open win in 1986; his round of 63 in terrible weather was simply amazing. And the 1994 championship wasn't too shabby either. I can still see Nick Price leaping in the air after holing an enormous putt for an eagle on the penultimate hole. Fantastic stuff.
I know it isn't asking for much, but I'd love to see any of those scenarios re-enacted come July, this time with Tiger and Sergio going head-to-head down the stretch. How great would that be?
4) Sandy Lyle to be named Ryder Cup captain
As I write, I'm not sure where Jose Maria Olazabal stands on his being considered the 2010 captaincy, but if the great Spaniard decides he wants to try and make the side as a player, there can be no better candidate than my old mate Sandy Lyle.
I'd love to see Sandy as Ryder Cup captain. As the last remaining member of Europe's 'Big Five' (Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer) and one of the nicest people in the game, he deserves the post.
Not only that, I think Sandy would do a great job, especially with a couple of experienced vice-captains beside him. It isn't really a one-man job any more. Every skipper needs extra eyes and ears out there on the course telling him what is going on. So it's 'Sandy for skipper' for me!
5) A 'home' win at the British Senior Open
Call me selfish, but nothing would give me more pleasure in the coming year than a victory at the only senior major played outside the United States. This July, the British Senior Open is being played at Sunningdale, which is near as it gets to a home game for me. Not only do I live just down the road, I'm proud to say that I am an honourary member at the club where I started my professional career as an assistant almost 40 years ago.
Even now, I play the Old Course - one of the world's best - three or four times a week when I'm home. I know that no one will know it better come July. I'm just hoping that local knowledge counts for enough to pull me to what would be perhaps the biggest victory of my career.
