Just two months after winning the Senior British Open at Carnoustie, Paul Broadhurst bagged his first victory on the Champions Tour on American soil at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.
The 51 year old former Ryder Cup player from the West Midlands wasted no time in cashing in on his recently acquired two-year exemption on the US 50’s circuit when beating Bernhard Langer and Kevin Sutherland by a single shot to secure his first title in America, and a first prize of $300,000.
Broadhurst birdied the iconic par-five closing hole to take the title, which also saw him join Ben Hogan and Tom Watson as the only players to win at both Pebble Beach and Carnoustie. He finished on 11-under-par for two rounds at Pebble Beach and one at Poppy Hills.
“There are scoreboards all around the last four holes, so I was well aware of what was going on, and knew I needed to birdie the last to avoid a playoff,” Broadhurst said. “I probably hit two of the best shots I’ve ever hit up 18. Perfect tee shot and a really good utility into the green, just on the front edge. I managed to two-putt from 30 feet, so I’m absolutely delighted.”
Broadhurst, who finished 37th in the US Senior Open in August, and 19th in last month’s Shaw Charity Classic, said: “Being in the frame at the British Senior Open certainly helped an awful lot with my nerves. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I felt fairly comfortable out there.”