NEWPORT’S Phillip Price is planning to make the most of home advantage as he aims to win The Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club this week.

The 2002 Ryder Cup hero turned 50 last October, allowing him to compete on the senior tour, and he’s in fine form after winning the WINSTONgolf Senior Open in Germany earlier this month.

Price is relishing the chance to play on a course he knows well and he’s ready to challenge the likes of defending champion Paul Broadhurst, Bernhard Langer and fellow Welshman Ian Woosnam.

“It will be my first Senior Open and I couldn’t have picked a better one,” said Price.

“We come to Porthcawl in the winter half a dozen times to play with friends so I know the course really well.

“I think knowing the course doesn’t give me an advantage as such but I think home comforts are going to be an advantage.

“Staying at home and having a lot of friendly faces around is going to make me enjoy the week a little bit more.

“I’ve played at the Celtic Manor in the Wales Open and I don’t feel pressured by it,” he added.

“Sometimes there’s a little too much fuss but I don’t think that will happen here.

“I’ll have support and hopefully I can benefit from that.”

Irish Ryder Cup player Philip Walton is one of 42 golfers who claimed their place at Porthcawl after successfully negotiating Monday qualifying.

Walton, who claimed the winning point for Europe at the 1995 Ryder Cup, qualified at Southerndown Golf Club with ten other golfers after carding a level par round of 70.

More than 420 players from almost 40 countries took part in qualifying events at Ashburnham, Machynys, Pyle & Kenfig and Southerndown.

At Pyle & Kenfig, American Skip Kendall carded a one under par round of 70 to lead the qualifiers, with compatriot Lance Ten Broeck, who once caddied for Swedish Ryder Cup player Jesper Parnevik, also making it through qualification.

Paul Streeter carded the lowest round of the day, a five under par round of 67 at Machynys, with amateurs Jez Tomlinson and Mike White also qualifying. The pair are two of seven amateurs who will tee it up at the Senior Open.

All of those who qualified will hope to follow in the footsteps of American Pete Oakley, who came through the qualification process before winning a maiden senior major title in 2004 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

The 144-man field for this year’s Championship is now complete, and those who successfully qualified will join a host of major champions, Ryder Cup captains and players and European Tour winners at Royal Porthcawl.

The tournament starts tomorrow and concludes on Sunday.

A variety of ticket options are still available along with hospitality packages.

In addition to full price season and day tickets, special Twilight Tickets are available for entry after 3pm tomorrow and Friday, priced at £13.50 in advance or £15 on the gate.

Young adults aged between 17 and 24 can purchase a youth ticket at a discounted price of £16.

Entry is free of charge for the under-16s, accompanied by an adult, while parking close to the Royal Porthcawl course is also free.

Tickets are available by telephone on 0800 023 2557 or online at senioropenchampionship.com.