Sam Torrance, Marathon Runner

Sam Torrance is one of the most popular and charismatic golfers on the professional world stage. His career has spanned over 35 years, during which he has won over 30 tournaments around the world and has walked an impressive 25,000 kilometres in the process! . Born on 24 August 1953, Torrance was one of the leading players on the European Tour from the mid 1970s to the late 1990s, with 21 Tour wins.

He was a member of the European Ryder Cup teams on eight occasions, from 1981 to 1995 consecutively. In 1985 he sank the winning putt, which deprived the Americans of the trophy for the first time in 28 years. He also was a member of Cupwinning teams in 1987 (first-ever win for Europe on American soil), 1989 and 1995.

In 2002, he was the non-playing captain on the European team that won the 2002 Cup at The Belfry. This made him the second European captain to sink the winning putt and captain a winning team at separate Ryder Cups, after Seve Ballesteros in 1987 (as a player) and 1997 (as captain).

Torrance turned professional at 16, and joined the European Tour at 17. He achieved his first professional win in 1972, and won the Sir Henry Cotton Award as Rookie of the Year that season. He recorded his first European Tour victory in 1976, and went on to win 21 times on the European Tour. Only fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie has accumulated more European Tour titles without winning one of golf\'s four major championships.

His best finish on the European Tour Order of Merit was second, which he achieved in 1984 and 1995. In total he finished in the top 10 on the list 10 times. He holds the record for the most career appearances on the European Tour, with over 700 events played at the close of the 2008 season.

During his prime Torrance was known for long driving and accurate short iron play, often played in a daring style.

Torrance was also an early pioneer of the broom-handle putter. After a disappointing 1988 season on the greens, Torrance exper i m e n t e d with the long putter that was already being used successfully in the US. He debuted his v e r s i o n , which anchored on the chin rather than the mid-riff, at the 1989 Jersey Open and subsequently finished in the top five. He has used it relatively successfully ever since.

In 2003, on turning 50, Torrance became eligible to play in senior tournaments, and he picked up his first win on the European Seniors Tour in 2004. He finished first on the European Seniors Tour\'s Order of Merit in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

Torrance\'s father Bob is a highly respected golf instructor, who coached son Sam from childhood. Torrance married English actress Suzanne Danielle in 1988, and they have three children. With his son Daniel in partnership, Sam won the team event at the 2003 Dunhill Links championship at St Andrews. Torrance was honoured with the MBE (1996) and OBE (2003), for his outstanding contributions to golf.