KEY POINTS:
Fifty-three years after winning his first New Zealand Open golf title as an 18-year-old amateur, Sir Bob Charles will tee off again in the Open.
He has accepted a New Zealand Golf invitation to play the Open at The Hills near Queenstown from November 29-December 2 saying it was "great honour to be invited back", especially as it was the 100th anniversary of the first Open.
"It was the New Zealand Open in 1954 that launched my career and over the years I have had a great affinity with the event," said Charles. "I said three years ago that I had played my last tournament in New Zealand, but this is such an honour and a special occasion."
Winner of the British Open in 1963, Charles has also won the NZ Open four times and has had 75 tournament victories around the world, as well as being twice runner-up in the British Open (1968, 1969), runner-up in the US PGA (1968) and twice third in the US Open (1964, 1970).
While Charles has not had many rounds since playing at Pebble Beach in the US two months ago, he has spent time working on his game.
"I've only played about six games since coming back to New Zealand, but I have been hitting plenty of balls. I shot a 67 round at Shirley [Christchurch Golf Club] the other day, but it was off the white tees."
Charles is excited about The Hills but its length off the championship tees is a concern.
"I made my career on courses that were about 6600 yards [about 6000 metres] but The Hills will be 7200 yards [6600 metres]. They have a par four that is 500 yards [450 metres] and a par three that is 235 yards [[210 metres]. Those sort of distances are not my cup of tea, but with the practice I am doing my game is not too far away."
Bill MacGown, chief executive of New Zealand Golf, said having Charles at the 100th anniversary event was "amazing".
"The respect that golf fans, covering several generations and many different countries, have for Sir Bob is immense. We are indeed fortunate to have him playing the Open in 2007," he said. "It might be 54 years since Sir Bob played in his first NZ Open as an 18-year-old, but his love and enthusiasm has not dimmed."
- NZPA
