Smyth, Torrance enjoy US seniors tour bow

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and Ireland's Des Smyth came through the American Champions Tour in fine style when sharing fourth place at the Constellation Energy Classic in Baltimore.

Ireland’s Des Smyth was tied on on six under after rounds of 67, 71 and 72. The pair earned around €71,000 each.

The 21-time European Tour winner recently turned 50 and had finished 15th and fourth in two European Seniors Tour events before crossing the Atlantic.

“It’s a great new challenge, like the start of a new career,” Torrance said at Baltimore’s Hayfields Country Club.

“I’ve played with a lot of these guys; it’s nice to see my old friends again.”

Torrance, who captained Europe to the 2000 Ryder Cup victory at the Belfry, opened the tournament with a two-over 74 on Friday.

In terms of ’what-ifs,’ if the Scot had opened with the 68 he posted both Saturday and Sunday, he would have finished at 12 under, three strokes better than Larry Nelson’s winning total.

Yesterday, Torrance showed the back-nine form that has put him in the winner’s circle so many times in his career, with birdies on 11, 15, 16 and 18.