Stars from the sporting and entertainment worlds have expressed their excitement as they prepare to line up alongside golfing greats at the Legends Tour’s Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at Formby Golf Club and Formby Ladies Golf Club next week.
Held from August 24-28, tickets are still available for a packed five-day schedule of golf, which includes 1999 Open Championship winner Paul Lawrie and others battling it out over 72 holes on Merseyside as they compete for the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.
Taking place on August 24 in the build up to the tournament, a host of famous faces will tee it up in the Celebrity Series event. Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, 20-time National Hunt champion jockey AP McCoy, 1991 snooker world champion John Parrott and ex-Manchester City star Danny Mills are among a star-studded line up who will be playing the links course.
Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance online but can also be purchased at the gate during the event. Adult day tickets cost £15, over 50s can get in for just £10 a day while under 16s are admitted free of charge. Season-pass tickets are also still available, with adult tickets costing £35 after and senior tickets costing £25.
Fowler will be aiming to follow up his success in the event last year and arrives at Formby in fine form after winning the Jersey Legends Celebrity Series event in June.
He said: “We are blessed in this part of the world with some of the best golf courses in the country and Formby is right up there. I have been lucky enough to play in a number of the Legends events and the buzz is always great.
“The celebrities take it very seriously, but we never lose sight of the fact that it is meant to be a fun event. Head down to Formby between August 24-28 and you will be guaranteed a great time at a great venue.”
Fellow former England international Danny Mills said: “What makes golf so great is that one minute you can feel on top of the world and the next you are brought crashing back to reality – but it’s those moments where you are on a high that have us coming back for more.”
“The Formby Legends will be great fun where you will see some superb golf from the professionals. They really are a class above.”
Another celebrity looking forward to a “highly competitive” event at Formby is McCoy. He said: “I was lucky enough to play in the Jersey Legends back in June and there was a real buzz about the place! It’s a fun event but trust me, it’s still highly competitive. Everyone wants to do well! Formby is a top venue and a fitting place to host the PGA Seniors Championship.”
Of all the celebrities taking part in the day, former A Question of Sport team captain, snooker legend and Formby member Parrott will be looking to make home advantage count.
He said: “I am a member at Formby and I count myself very lucky. The course is in wonderful condition at the moment and there are few settings that can rival its beauty – particularly when the sun is out, as it has been for most of this summer.
“The event is superbly run and what I love about it is the relaxed atmosphere. You really do get great access to all the players and the celebrities and can see first hand how great the players are, and which celebs needs to brush up on their games.”
The 2022 Staysure PGA Seniors Championship will return to Formby following the success of the 2021 tournament, when Paul Broadhurst claimed the title. Since last year’s event several changes have been put into place at the course, including the reshaping of several holes.
Speaking ahead of the event, Stuart Leech, secretary manager at Formby Golf Club, said: “We are all very excited by the upcoming Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, one of the largest events on the Legends Tour.
“The course is playing extremely well and has been conditioned as a true test of links golf, for the professionals to enjoy, and challenge themselves with. Formby always provides a worthy champion, and we would anticipate this year will be no different.
“The changes we have made through the course of the winter will hopefully be warmly received by the players. The ninth hole now looks spectacular from the tee, with the fairway meandering round the dunes, and a real risk and reward benefit from the tee. The reshaping around the fifth and 16th par threes will mean a challenging recovery for anyone missing the green, with bigger sloes and run off areas created.
“The main difference the players will notice is to the 17th, with the new tee in play. This has added some length and created a fantastic shape to the hole from the tee, making it only reachable in two with a firm prevailing wind. The green has always been tricky with its undulations, so this will come more into play for the approach shots.
“It will be really interesting to get the players’ views on welcoming them back to Formby and we look forward to hosting them all here again.”