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WELSH seniors champion Phil Price rates winning the Staysure Seniors Tour Order of Merit in 2019 as being right up there with his Ryder Cup heroics.
Following Ian Woosnam as the only Welsh player to top one of the main golf order of merit tables was also enough to earn 53-year-old Price the Wales Golf Tour Pro of the Year Award.
While Price is best known for beating Phil Mickelson in the singles of the 2002 Ryder Cup helping Europe to victory at The Belfry, topping last year’s European Seniors Tour money list represents reward for consistency.
Price was due to collect the award at the Wales Golf Annual Awards Lunch at 2010 Clubhouse of Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor earlier this month.
But the event had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The John Jacobs Trophy, awarded to the European Seniors’ order of merit winner, followed an impressive showing in 17 events.
Price won the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at Kent’s London Club, in August, and also finished in the top 10 no fewer than 12 times.
Former World No. 1 Ian Woosnam – who claimed a Green Jacket at Augusta in the 1991 Masters – won the European Tour Order of Merit twice, as well as the European Seniors Tour once.
So Price became the second Welshman to top one of those rankings since they started in 1970.
“I wanted to win this order of merit and I rank doing it as one of my top three golfing achievements,” said Price.
“The Ryder Cup is what I will be remembered for and it was special to win that singles match and be part of a winning Ryder Cup team.
“Winning the European Open was also big for me. However winning the John Jacobs Trophy is right up there with those two things.
“Everyone wants to be No. 1, so to do it over 17 events is very important to me.
“I won the PGA which is our biggest event outside the Majors, so it was nice to win that as part of a year which I enjoyed.
“I was leading from August on, but it was a long end of the season through to December.
“The pressure built up more and more because people were congratulating me, but there were a few people chasing me down.
“I had a lot to do going into the last event because if James Kingston won it then I would have had to be in the top 10 to stay top of the money list.
“He was leading going into the final round so I knew I was under pressure to come through.
“I think it was my consistency which won it, most weeks I would turn up and do something.
“I was in good shape, prepared well, a strong mentality and a good ‘B’ game if I was not playing my best.”
The Staysure Tour Order of Merit win was made more special for Price as his son Edward was his caddy at the final event, and the rest of his family were in Mauritius to join in the celebrations.
Price added: “The whole family were there and my son was on the bag. He was great, it was a stressful back nine and he was very supportive.
“It was great to get onto the last green and know it was all over, it was nice to do it together.
“Our children were too young to be part of it when I won on the European Tour, so it was enjoyable to be with everyone this time.”
‘If you join Woosnam as only other Welsh winner, it’s pretty special…’
WALES Golf chief executive Richard Dixon paid tribute to Price after his award was announced.
Richard said: “Congratulations to Phil, a deserved winner of this award for a big achievement in Welsh golf history.
“Any time you are joining Ian Woosnam as the only other Welsh player to have gained an achievement, you know you have done something pretty special.
“Only four years ago we were presenting Phil with a Wales Golf Outstanding Achievement Award, but he has shown he can still compete at the top level.
“Apart from working hard for his own success, Phil has always been an excellent role model and happy to give something back to the next generations of Welsh golfers coming through the ranks.
“We look forward to making the formal presentation of this well-deserved award at an event later in the year.”
