BRIAN WAITES, who a year ago was disappointed not to win the British Seniors Open, will today be happy just to be part of the action when the championship starts at Royal Lytham.
The 52-year-old former Ryder Cup player lines up alongside the likes of Arnold Palmer and Gary Player just 11 months after a car accident that broke both legs and arms and required 10 operations to repair a shattered right kneecap.
'I did not move from my hospital bed for three months but I never once thought I wouldn't play golf again,' said Waites, runner-up to Player two years ago and sixth behind Player's brother-in- law Bobby Verwey last July.
He finally made his competitive return five weeks ago and at the start of this month finished joint fourth in a 54-hole seniors tournament in Switzerland.
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