Peter Wilson will once again play among exalted company at the Senior Open Championship, which begins this morning (Thursday) and runs until Sunday at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.

Wilson, a member of Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich, was one of 10 Kent golfers to take part in qualifying on Monday, sealing his place with a two under par 69 for fourth at Pyle and Kenfig.

He will now rub shoulders with major champions Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal, Paidraig Harrington and Darren Clarke - last year’s winner and one of only four men to have won the Open Championship and Senior Open. With the purse awarded in US dollars, those names are likely to be in the fight for the first prize of $432,000.

“Monday was really good,” Wilson said. “[I] didn’t make too many errors, you can’t afford to on a 18-hole shoot-out.

“The course at Pyle and Kenfig was great tee to green. The front nine and back nine are two different nines and the greens were fantastic. I think I was fortunate to get in without a play-off, I was over the moon about that.”

Wilson finished joint 28th the last time he entered the Senior Open, two years ago at Sunningdale, and although anything can happen over four rounds after navigating qualifying he’s confident of beating his 2021 mark.

“I was exempt [in] 2021 when I finished 28th at Sunningdale and I’m confident I can improve on that this year,” he said.

“I do play links golf but with this course it’s so difficult. The front nine is very difficult and then if the wind’s up your tournament can be over before it’s even started. I was on the wrong side of the draw last time but you never know, I might get lucky this year.

“I enjoy links golf, you’ve got to have your A-game and you need a bit of luck on links, you can’t overpower a links course as you saw last week at the Open.

“You don’t have to be the longest hitter to win, if your short game’s in play and you don’t make too many big errors then you’ve got a chance.

“Round here it’s just the weather, if the weather turns you’re not going to compete but it’s a good course, I enjoy it and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

Wilson tees off at noon alongside Australia’s Brent Paterson and Paraguay’s Carlos Franco.