Sam Torrance

Born: Aug. 24, 1953

Birthplace: Largs, Scotland

Age: 54

Residence: Wentworth, England

Turned pro: 1970

Player notes:Owns 22 victories on the European Tour, the last coming at 1998 Peugeot Open de France…Has added nine more wins on the European Seniors Tour…Won 2007 Bendinat London Senior Masters with son, Daniel, serving as his caddie…Played much of the 2007 season with injured right arm…Topped European Seniors Tour Order of Merit for second consecutive year in 2006…Notched first European Seniors Tour win at Travis Perkins Senior Masters at Wentworth just six weeks into rookie year on that circuit…Started playing the game under the guidance of his father, Bob, his one an only coach, at Rossendale in Lancashire before his dad returned to Scotland at Largs in Ayrshire…Left school at 13 and turned pro at 16 and started out on the European Tour at 17…It took him nine events to make his first cut…Member of European Ryder Cup teams in 1981, ’83, ’85, ’87, ’89, ’91, ’93 and ’95 and will be remembered for the man who holed the winning putt to take the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1985…Captained European squad to victory at 2002 Ryder Cup…Awarded Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1996 for services to golf and Order of British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for his inspired captaincy of the European Ryder Cup squad…Won 2003 Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews with son Daniel…Was the first big-name pro on European Tour to switch to the long putter after going through struggles on the greens in 1988…He has used the implement ever since.