The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, coming back to Turnberry in 2006 for the hotel’s centenary year.

The Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, is delighted to announce that the prestigious Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, will be coming back to Turnberry in the hotel’s centenary year, 2006.

Stewart Selbie, General Manager of The Westin Turnberry Resort, said: “Turnberry has a superb reputation for Open Championship golf and we are delighted to be hosting The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, over the legendary Ailsa Course in 2006, our centenary year. In particular we are thrilled to be welcoming several past Open Champions, one of whom is Tom Watson, the defending champion, and previous winner of the title the last time the event was held at Turnberry in 2003.”

Following the success of the last Senior British Open Championship at Turnberry in 2003, George Brown, Estate Manager, The Westin Turnberry Resort says “Turnberry has hosted many great championships and I am delighted that in 2006 we will be able to add The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, to this list. The Ailsa golf course is one of the very best golf courses in the world and I am sure that the world’s best golfers will enjoy and remember this successful tournament that Turnberry last hosted in 2003.”

The tournament will be played on the magnificent Ailsa course, host to three Open Championships in 77, 86 & 94 and five Senior British Open Championships including the inaugural tournament in 1987.

The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, is not only an official event sanctioned by the R&A on both the Champions Tour (US Seniors Tour) and the European Seniors Tour, but is now also recognised as one of the five seniors ‘Majors’, ensuring that a truly international field is attracted to this championship.

Andy Stubbs, on behalf of the Championship Committee, said: “It is wonderful news that we are to return to The Westin Turnberry Resort for The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, and highly appropriate that Tom Watson will return as defending champion.

“He is one of the true legends of golf and all of us who love the game will have fond memories of what he has achieved, particularly at Turnberry, over the years. Tom will be one of the main attractions next July, but as more and more great players reach the magical age of 50, the stature of the tournament keeps on growing, establishing it as one of the true golfing highlights of the year.

The tournament consistently provides top quality, five star entertainment and we are again grateful for the assistance of Event Scotland in helping secure one of the Home of Golf’s most celebrated courses for our flagship event.

Of course, the golfing skills exhibited on the course will be matched off course by the excellence of the surroundings and by the fantastic facilities of The Westin Turnberry Resort. It is rightly regarded as one of the top hotels in the world and will provide a fitting accompaniment to such a great championship.”

Paul Burley, Director of Golf, The Westin Turnberry Resort commented, “ My team and I are delighted to be hosting The Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, at Turnberry in 2006 and we look forward to welcoming back the worlds very best senior professional golfers to the Ailsa course. I am confident it will be a superb championship.”

The Ailsa is regularly acknowledged as one of Britain’s top three courses as well as consistently being ranked in the world’s top 20 courses. With spectacular views sweeping across the Irish Sea to the Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran and the Mull of Kintyre with the picturesque lighthouse on the horizon, the Ailsa will provide a magnificent and memorable setting for this championship.