Who's who: Sam Torrance

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Sam Torrance

  • Name:

    Sam Torrance
  • Country:

    Scotland
  • Born:

    Aug 24, 1953 in Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Rossendale GC, Lancs and Largs GC, Ayrshire.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; TV commentator and course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1970 (aged 16)
  • Website:

    https://www.samtorrance.com

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1981, '83, '85, '87, '89, '91, '93, '95). Ryder Cup captain (2002). Total professional wins (43, to date), including European Tour (21) and European Snr Tour (11). European Tour Rookie of the Year (1972). European Snr Tour Order of Merit winner (2005). Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (1996) and Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE (2003).

Golf course design

Torrance's best known design is the Torrance course, Fairmont St Andrews. A second course at The Dutch in the Netherlands will be a Torrance Design.

Did you know?

The son of famous club professional and instructor Bob Torrance, Sam established himself as a gifted golfer at an early age, turning professional aged 16 and joining the European Tour at 17. He won 21 times on the European Tour, played in eight Ryder Cups and captained the Europeans to a Ryder Cup victory at The Belfry in 1992.

Top tournaments won by Sam Torrance

2009
Europe
202 (-14)
€25,234
DGM

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

€25,234

Title sponsor

DGM

Played as the DGM Barbados Open (March 18-20; Eurpn Snr Tr event). Second-placed Angel Franco (Paraguay) finished 4 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [Royal Westmoreland, St James, Barbados].

2009
Awards
€170,696
see Score
Eurpn Snr Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Score

€170,696

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Snr Tr

Torrance (Scot) won his third Eurpn Snr Tr Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with 2009 season earnings of €170,696 on the Tour. Second on the Ian Woosnam (Wales) was second with €167,316; Carl Mason (Eng) was third with €157,918.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

€64,433

Title sponsor

OKI

Played as the OKI Castellon Open Espana - Seniors Tour Championship (Nov 7-9; European Senior Tour season-ending event). Second-placed Ángel Fernández (Chile) and Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Sam Torrance (Scot), who recorded his tenth win on the Tour. [GC Mediterraneo, Castellon, Spain].

2007
Europe
206 (-10)
€33,274
Bendinat

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

€33,274

Title sponsor

Bendinat

Played as the Bendinat London Seniors Masters (June 22-24). Second-placed Jose Rivero (Esp) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [London GC, Ash, Kent, England].

2006
Europe
213 (-3)
€44,374
Charles Church

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

213 (-3)

Prize money

€44,374

Title sponsor

Charles Church

Played as the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open (Sept 1-3). Second-placed Bill Longmuir (Scot) finished 1 shot behind home-country winner Sam Torrance (Scot). [East course, Dalmahoy Hotel & CC, Midlothian].

2006
Europe
207 (-6)
€63,000
AIB

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

207 (-6)

Prize money

€63,000

Title sponsor

AIB

Played as the AIB Irish Seniors Open in association with Greenstar & Fáilte Ireland (June 2-4). Sam Torrance (Scot) beat Jerry Bruner (USA) at the second playoff hole to win back-to-back European Senior Tour events. Guillermo Encina (Chile) and Stewart Ginn (Aus) were eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Fota Island GC, Cork, Ireland].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Hassan II Trophy (Feb 24-27; unofficial limited-field event). 53-year-old Torrance (Scot) beat Raphaël Jacquelin (Fra) in a playoff. [Red course, Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco].

2006
Europe
205 (-11)
€26,250
Sharp

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Venezia

Score

205 (-11)

Prize money

€26,250

Title sponsor

Sharp

Played as the Sharp Italian Seniors Open (May 19-21). Eamonn Darcy (Ire) finished 4 shots behind Sam Torrance (Scot), who recorded his fifth European Senior Tour win. [Venezia GC, Lido di Venezia, Veneto].

2006
Europe
Stoke by Nayland
268 (-20)
€48,936
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Stoke by Nayland

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

€48,936

Title sponsor

x

Played as the PGA Seniors Championship (50th) (Aug 25-28). Second-placed Luis Carbonetti (Arg) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Sam Torrance (Scot). [Gainsborough course, Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Leavenheath, nr Colchester, Essex].

2006
Awards
€347,525
see Score
Eurpn Snr Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Score

€347,525

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Snr Tr

Torrance (Scot) won his second straight Eurpn Snr Tr Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with 2006 season earnings of €347,525 on the Tour. Carl Mason (Eng) was second with €268,453; Jose Rivero (Spain) was third with €233,374.

2005
Europe
205 (-11)
€26,674
Irvine Whitlock

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

La Moye

Score

205 (-11)

Prize money

€26,674

Title sponsor

Irvine Whitlock

Played as the Irvine Whitlock Seniors Classic (June 10-12). Second-placed David J. Russell (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Sam Torrance (Scot), who recorded his second European Senior Tour win. [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].

2005
Awards
€277,420
see Score
Eurpn Snr Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Score

€277,420

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Snr Tr

Torrance (Scot) won the Eurpn Snr Tr 2005 Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with earnings of €277,420 on the Tour. Carl Mason (Eng) was second with €257,113; Des Smyth (Ire) was third with €229,514.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

€48,345

Title sponsor

De Vere

Played as the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship (Aug 4-7). Second-placed David J. Russell (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Sam Torrance (Scot). [Nicklaus course, Carden Park, Cheshire].

2005
Europe
201 (-15)
€33,223
Bendinat

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

201 (-15)

Prize money

€33,223

Title sponsor

Bendinat

Played as the Bendinat London Seniors Masters (Sept 23-25). Second-placed David J. Russell (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [London GC, Ash, Kent, England].

2004
Europe
203 (-13)
€50,765
Travis Perkins

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

€50,765

Title sponsor

Travis Perkins

Played as the Travis Perkins Senior Masters (Aug 13-15). Second-placed Seiji Ebihara (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind first-time European Snr Tour winner Torrance (Scot). [Edinburgh course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

1998
Europe
276 (-12)
£83,330
Peugeot

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£83,330

Title sponsor

Peugeot

Played as the Peugeot Open de France (June 25-28). Second-placed Olivier Edmond (Fra), Mathew Goggin (Aus), Massimo Florioli (Italy) and Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 2 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [Albatros course, Golf National, Guyancourt, nr Paris].

1995
Europe
270 (-18)
£108,330
Collingtree

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

£108,330

Title sponsor

Collingtree

Played as the Collingtree British Masters (Sept 14-17). Second-placed Michael Campbell (NZ) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot), who recorded his 20th European Tour win. [Collingtree Park GC, Northampton, Northants].

1995
Europe
269 (-19)
£61,716
Conte of Florence

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

269 (-19)

Prize money

£61,716

Title sponsor

Conte of Florence

Played as the Conte of Florence Italian Open. Second-placed Jose Rivero (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [GC Le Rovedine, Opera, nr Milan, Italy].

1995
Europe
277 (-11)
£111,107
Murphy's

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

£111,107

Title sponsor

Murphy's

Played as Murphy's Irish Open. Torrance (Scot) beat Howard Clark (Eng) at the second playoff hole, where Torrance's eagle trumped Clark's birdie. Stuart Cage (Eng) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Mount Juliet GC, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland].

1993
Europe
Osona Montanya
201 (-15)
£50,000
Heineken

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Osona Montanya

Score

201 (-15)

Prize money

£50,000

Title sponsor

Heineken

Played as the Heineken Open (Apr 22-25). Second-placed Jay Townsend (USA) finished 3 shots behind Torrance (Scot). Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [GC Osona-Montanyà, El Brull, nr Barcelona, Spain].

1993
Europe
278 (-10)
£83,330
Honda

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

£83,330

Title sponsor

Honda

Played as the Honda Open (June 10-13). Torrance (Scot) beat Paul Broadhurst (Eng), Ian Woosnam (Wales) and Johan Rystrom (Swe) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Gut Kaden G&LC, Alveslohe, nr Hamburg].

1993
Europe
284 (-4)
£33,330
Kronenbourg

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

£33,330

Title sponsor

Kronenbourg

Played as the first (and only) Kronenbourg Open (March 25-28). Second-placed Mike Miller (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [Gardagolf CC, Soiano del Lago, nr Brescia, Lake Garda].

1991
Europe
279 (-9)
£33,330
Jersey European Airways

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

La Moye

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

£33,330

Title sponsor

Jersey European Airways

Played as the Jersey European Airways Open (April 11-14). Second-placed Mark Davis (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].

1990
Europe
272 (-16)
£75,000
Mercedes

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

£75,000

Title sponsor

Mercedes

Played as the Mercedes German Masters (Oct 4-7). Second-placed Ian Woosnam (Wales) and defending champion Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 3 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [Stuttgarter GC Solitude, Mönsheim, nr Stuttgart].

1987
Europe
271 (-17)
£23,507
Lancia

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

£23,507

Title sponsor

Lancia

Played as the Lancia Italian Open. Torrance (Scot) beat Jose Rivero (Esp) with a par at the sixth playoff hole. [Red course, GC Monticello, Cassina Rizzardi, nr Como].

1985
Europe
264 (-12)
£20,790
Johnnie Walker

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

264 (-12)

Prize money

£20,790

Title sponsor

Johnnie Walker

Played as the Johnnie Walker Monte Carlo Open (June 28-30). Second-placed Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [Monte-Carlo GC, Mont Agel, La Turbie, French Riviera].

1984
Europe
El Kantaoui
282 (-6)
£10,830
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

El Kantaoui

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

£10,830

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tunisian Open (April 12-15; European Tour season-opener). Second-placed Brian Waites (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [El Kantaoui Golf Intl, nr Sousse, Tunisia].

1984
Europe
270 (-18)
£20,000
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Fulford

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

£20,000

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Aug 16-19). Second-placed Wayne Grady (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

1984
Europe
281 (-7)
£16,660
Sanyo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

£16,660

Title sponsor

Sanyo

Played as the Sanyo Open (Sept 20-23). Sam Torrance (Scot) beat defending champion Des Smyth (Ire) with a par at the first playoff hole, to record his tenth European Tour win. [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, Terrassa, Barcelona].

1983
Europe
280 (-8)
£14,251
Scandinavian Enterprise

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Ullna

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

£14,251

Title sponsor

Scandinavian Enterprise

Played as the Scandinavian Enterprise Open (Jun 30-Jul 3). Second-placed Craig Stadler (USA) finished 1 shot behind Torrance (Scot). [Ullna GC, Åkersberga, nr Stockholm, Sweden].

1983
Europe
286 (-2)
£7,500
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Troia

Score

286 (-2)

Prize money

£7,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Portuguese Open (Nov 3-6; European Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Chris Moody (Eng) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Sam Torrance (Scot). [Troia Golf, Carvahal, nr Setubal, Portugal].

1982
Europe
207 (-12)
£7,000
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Penina

Score

207 (-12)

Prize money

£7,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Portuguese Open (Nov 4-7; European Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Sam Torrance (Scot), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Penina Resort, Portimao, Algarve, Portugal].

1982
Europe
273 (-15)
£8,578
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

£8,578

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges Spanish Open. Second-placed Roger Chapman (Eng), Sandy Lyle (Scot) and Ian Woosnam (Wales) finished 8 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [North course, Real (Royal) Sociedad Hípica Española Club de Campo, Madrid].

1981
Europe
276 (-12)
£13,328
Carroll & Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£13,328

Title sponsor

Carroll & Co.

Played as Carroll's Irish Open. Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

282

Prize money

Title sponsor

Mayne Nickless

Played as the Mayne Nickless Australian PGA Ch'ship. Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished in second place behind Torrance (Scot).

1979
America
Cali CC
273 (-11)
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Cali CC

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Colombian Open (Abierto de Colombia). Won by Torrance (Scot). [CC of Cali, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia].

1976
Europe
277 (-15)
£6,000
Piccadilly

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

277 (-15)

Prize money

£6,000

Title sponsor

Piccadilly

Played as the Piccadilly Medal (May 13-16; 72-hole stroke play event). Second-placed Bob Shearer (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Torrance (Scot), who recorded his first win on the European Tour. [Coventry GC, Finham, Coventry, Warwicks].

1976
Europe
280 (-8)
£2,500
Martini

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

£2,500

Title sponsor

Martini

Played as the Martini International (June 9-12). Second-placed Tommy Horton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [Ashburnham GC, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, S Wales].

1972
Awards
1,211.5 pts
£1,731
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Torrance, Sam

Venue

Score

1,211.5 pts

Prize money

£1,731

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Torrance (Scot) won the European Tour 1972 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Torrance finished 37th on the Tour's (points-based) Order of Merit; he won £1,731 in prize money during the season.

Find a course

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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