Constance Belle Mare Plage is recognised as a resort which has proved itself committed to golfers of all standards. That heritage of quality is reflected in the field this week which is full of golfers who have proved themselves capable of delivering quality, breaking boundaries and always demanding the best of themselves.
We call them legends playing on The Legend and here are five of the best:
1. The man they call Monty.
Colin Montgomorie. Photo credit: Getty Images.
He won the European Tour Order of Merit a record eight times, claimed the tour’s flagship tournament (the BMW PGA Championship) a record three times on the trot and was second five times in major championships (also a record but best not mention that one).
He’s also arguably Europe’s greatest ever performer in singles matches in the Ryder Cup and was the winning captain in 2010.
No question – #Legend
2. The man they call Pom
Peter O’Malley at Constance. Photo credit: Getty Images.
2015 rookie Peter O’Malley is Australian, but goes by the nickname of Pom and he once bettered Monty in a way that the Scotsman newspaper has described as “perhaps the most spectacular ever”.
The occasion was the 1992 Scottish Open, the venue was the iconic Gleneagles King’s course and O’Malley finished eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle to claim victory by two shots. It was a freakishly brilliant effort.
Nor was Monty the only superstar left trailing in his wake. Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam were also left gasping for breath.
#Legend
3. The man who holed the putt
Sam Torrance. Photo credit: Getty Images.
In 1981 the Ryder Cup was a joke, a mismatch between the superpower of America and a ragtag team of Europeans.
Four years later, galvanised by captain Tony Jacklin and the genius of Seve Ballesteros, Europe fought back and finally won the match again.
The final putt, the full stop on this remarkable transformation, was applied by Scotsman Sam Torrance, who memorably held his arms aloft in triumph at the Belfry.
Seventeen years later, on the same course and to rubber-stamp his legacy on the tournament, Torrance captained Europe to victory, continuing the huge change in not only Europe’s, but the event’s fortunes.
#Legend
4. The second oldest swinger in town
Miguel Angel Jimenez. Photo credit: Getty Images.
Few golfers are as popular as Miguel Angel Jimenez, the cigar-smoking, red wine-drinking, pony-tailed Spaniard who performs his own peculiar version of gymnastics on the driving range.
He is feted for being the oldest winner on the European Tour but whose record did he take? Des Smyth’s.
The elegant Irishman was an eight-time winner on the European Tour and his final victory came in the 2001 Madeira Island Open at a then record of 48 years and 34 days.
#Legend
5. The pioneer
Anders Forsbrand on tour. Photo credit: Getty Images.
In the 1970s the idea of Sweden being a hotbed of European golf would have been viewed as something of an absurdity and yet today the Scandinavian nation is a bi-annual provider of strength for the European Ryder Cup team.
Who led this change? Well, Anders Forsbrand was there at the front.
The six-time winner on the European Tour heralded the way for the likes of Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson and Alex Noren.
#Legend
Read more
- MCB European Senior Tour Championship in numbers
- MCB Tour Championship 2015: Where the title will be won and lost
- See what is in store in our MCB Tour Championship 2015 preview
- #MCBGolf: Conditions of Play
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