Pavin to play in Senior Open at Carnoustie

TWO months before he bids to get the better of Colin Montgomerie in the Ryder Cup, Corey Pavin is heading for Carnoustie to make what will be his first appearance in The Senior Open Championship.

The 50-year-old will become the first presiding Ryder Cup captain to play in the event, presented by MasterCard, when he tees up on the Angus course on 22-25 July.

"Winning The Senior Open Championship would mean a lot to me," said the 1995 US Open champion, who finished runner-up in The Cap Cana Championship on the US Champions Tour in March.

"Fourth was the best finish I ever had in The Open Championship in 1993 and so any time I can win a major is great.

"I love playing links golf – it is true golf in my opinion as it requires a lot of imagination and thinking. I like to play golf on the ground, not in the air.

"I like to run the ball up on the greens – even with my driver I like to hit it low and let it run and take the contour of the fairways if that helps me. Links golf suits my game more than any type of golf course but it's been a while since I've played it so I'm going to enjoy it."

Pavin missed the cut the last time he visited Carnoustie for The Open in 1999.