1999 Senior British Open

The 1999 Senior British Open was a professional golf tournament for players aged 50 and above and the 13th British Senior Open Championship, held from 22 to 25 July at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

1999 Senior British Open

Tournament information
Dates	22–25 July 1999
Location	Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 55.200°N 6.635°W / 55.200; -6.635
Course(s)	Royal Portrush Golf Club Dunluce Links
Organised by	The R&A
Tour(s)	European Senior Tour Senior PGA Tour
Format	72 holes stroke play
Statistics
Par	72
Length	6,690 yd (6,120 m)
Field	123 players, 63 after cut
Cut	155 (+11)
Prize fund	€560,000
Winner's share	€88,620
Champion
Christy O'Connor Jnr
282 (−6)
Location map
Royal Portrush GC Location in Europe Show map of Europe Royal Portrush GC Location in the United Kingdom Show map of the United Kingdom Royal Portrush GC Location in Ireland Show map of island of Ireland Royal Portrush GC Location in Northern Ireland Show map of Northern Ireland
← 1998 2000 →

In 2018, the tournament was, as were 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.^[1]

Christy O'Connor Jnr beat John Bland by three strokes and won his first of two Senior British Open titles.

Defending champion Brian Huggett finished tied 20th, 15 strokes from the back. Leading amateur was Roy Smethurst, tied 30th, 18 strokes from the winner.^[2][3][4]

Venue

Main article: Royal Portrush Golf Club

The event was the fifth Senior Open Championship in a row held at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

Royal Portrush GC 5th hole

Course layout

Name		Hole	Par	Yards
Hughie's		1	4	371
Giant's Grave		2	5	493
Islay		3	3	159
Fred Daly's		4	4	442
White Rocks		5	4	384
Harry Colt's		6	3	192
P.G. Stevenson's		7	4	420
Himalayas		8	4	377
Tavern		9	5	478
Dhu Varren		10	5	480
Feather Bed		11	3	166
Causeway		12	4	389
Skerries		13	4	371
Calamity Corner		14	3	205
Purgatory		15	4	366
Babington's		16	4	414
Glenarm		17	5	527
Greenaway		18	4	456
		Out	36	3,316
		In	36	3,374
		Total	72	6,690

Source:^[5]

Field

123 players, 113 professionals and 10 amateurs, entered the competition.

55 players qualified through two 18-hole final qualifying tournaments, 26 players at Royal Portrusch Valley Links course and 29 players at nearby Castlerock Golf Club. They joined 68 players, who were exempt into the championship.

Five players withdraw and one was disqualified. 63 players made the 36-hole cut.

Past champions in the field

Seven past Senior British Open champions participated. Six of them made the 36-hole cut, Gary Player (3rd), Bob Charles (tied 5th), Brian Huggett (tied 20th), Brian Barnes (tied 27th), Neil Coles (tied 27th) and John Fourie (tied 30th). One of them, Bobby Verwey, withdraw.

Past winners and runners-up at The Open Championship in the field

The field included three former winners of The Open Championship, Bob Charles (tied 5th), Gary Player (3rd) and Tony Jacklin (missed cut).

The field also included three former runners-up at The Open Championship; Brian Huggett (tied 20th), Neil Coles (tied 27th) and Christy O'Connor Snr (missed the cut).

Final results

Sunday, 25 July 1999

Place	Player	Score	To par	Money (€)
1	Christy O'Connor Jnr	76-69-68-69=282	−6	88,620
2	John Bland	73-71-71-70=285	−3	56,420
3	Gary Player	74-74-66-72=286	−2	32,788
4	John Morgan	71-74-70-72=287	−1	26,600
5	Bob Charles	72-73-67-77=289	+1	20,720
	Stewart Ginn	72-71-76-70=289
7	David Oakley	70-71-73-77=291	+3	18,200
8	Antonio Garrido	71-77-77-73=292	+4	16,800
T9	Jerry Bruner	75-76-72-70=293	+5	14,046
	Tommy Horton	78-73-71-71=293
	David Jones	80-70-72-71=293

Source:^[6]