Woosnam announces senior debut

Ian Woosnam has confirmed he will launch his senior golf career next March at the DGM Barbados Open ? the tournament which once again opens European Seniors Tour season ? at Royal Westmoreland.

For the ninth consecutive year, the cream of Europe?s senior golfing talent will get their new campaigns underway in Barbados and Woosnam is ready to take his spot among the elite field of 48 players competing at the WSM Sponsorship promoted tournament.

The Welshman turns 50 on March 2, 2008, just two days before the inaugural senior event of the year, which runs from March 4-7, and becomes eligible to begin the next chapter in his outstanding golf career.

The 1991 Masters Tournament champion and the winning 2006 European Ryder Cup Captain is excited about making his senior debut and said: "50 is a significant milestone in anyone's life but for me as a golfer, to now be eligible to play on this great Seniors circuit among some world class players really is an honour."

Woosnam went on to say: ?Being a resident in Barbados for some of the year means that I have the opportunity to play the Royal Westmoreland fairly regularly, so it will be great to make my European Seniors Tour debut there.?

European Seniors Tour Managing Director Andy Stubbs said: ?After a superb 2007 for our Tour, we are delighted to start the 2008 season in such a wonderful setting and look forward to returning to Barbados for another thrilling tournament.

?These are very exciting times for the European Seniors Tour with a golf legend like Ian Woosnam eligible for Membership and his European Senior Tour debut.

The DGM Barbados Open has been staged at Royal Westmoreland since 2000 and has been blessed with a new winner on each occasion. In 2007, England?s Gordon J Brand emerged triumphant and will return to defend his title.

The tournament has a unique format similar to the Dunhill Links Championship on The European Tour, in that it enables amateurs to play alongside the professionals for 54 holes, from Tuesday March 4 to Thursday March 6, in their own a better-ball competition.

The professional tournament takes place from Wednesday March 5 to Friday March 7, meaning the final 18 holes are for the senior professionals only.