James gets biggest ever career win

England’s Mark James collected the biggest cheque of his career after winning the Ford Senior Players Championship in Michigan.

The former Ryder Cup captain, who turned 50 last October, shot a final-round 73 to finish on 13 under par and win by one shot from Spain’s Jose Maria Canizares.

James earned $375,000 (€300,000) for his efforts, which surpassed his previous biggest cheque which he claimed when finishing second at the 1999 Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Canizares, a Ryder Cup team-mate of James in 1981 and 1985, closed with a 71 to finish second.

James, based in North Yorkshire, overcame testicular cancer in 2000 and proved he was back to full fitness with his impressive victory.

“It is a fantastic feeling. I’m enjoying the tour now,” he said.

“It is difficult to describe what the greens were like. You just put your putter behind it and the ball could slide by, they were frightening.

“I was just trying to make pars and two-putt, just trying to keep it steady and it paid off.

“Now I’m established (in America), I may take some time to go back to Europe.”