Past champion Henderson relishing Northern Open test at Royal Dornoch

Scott Henderson may jokingly consider himself a “crusty old senior” but the passing years have certainly not diminished his competitive fires.

The Aberdeen veteran heads to Royal Dornoch for the Northern Open, part of The PGA’s Open Series, with a spring in his step after safely negotiating his way through the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship qualifier at Ascot last week.

There’s plenty of golfing life left in Henderson yet. The 55-year-old won the Northern Open at a wind-swept Cruden Bay back in 1996 and the Tartan Tour stalwart is relishing the prospect of another crack at one of Scottish professional golf’s oldest titles.

“Being from Aberdeen, the Northern Open was always a title I wanted to win,” reflected Henderson, who joined a decorated roll of honour which includes the likes of John Panton, Eric Brown, Harry Bannerman, Brian Barnes and Jim Farmer.

“It was blowing a hurricane that week at Cruden Bay. I think I managed to play the last 36-holes in one-over which was a pretty good effort in the conditions.

"Royal Dornoch will be a terrific test. The Open Series has obviously opened the event up and I think the strong field underlines the reputation of the venue. Everybody wants to play here.”

A few months after his Northern Open success almost three decades ago, Henderson would earn his European – now DP World – Tour card at the qualifying school before going on to become the circuit’s rookie of the year in 1997.

Here in 2025, the Kings Links man is still as hungry as ever in this game of great longevity.
“I still love the competition, so we just keep on going,” he said. “Until I feel like I can’t compete then I’ll go. But I know I can still hit it longer than most and I’ve still got a lot to offer.

“In other sports, you’re finished well before 50 and you go and do something else. But golf keeps you hanging on and thinking ‘what if, what if?’. Before you know it, you’re up your 50s.

“If I’d stopped doing what I do and applied the amount of effort I’ve put into this game to something else I’d probably have a great business going. But it’s hard to turn your back on golf.”

Henderson will be joined in this week’s 36-hole shoot-out by two-time Northern Open champion, Paul O’Hara, and Josh Crumplin, the current leader of the Callaway Golf Chrome Tour Open Series Order of Merit.