By Chris Dutton
Golf veteran Peter Senior snatched the Australian Masters title out of Matt Millar's hands two years ago and the 57-year-old has a chance to spoil a new party in Canberra this week.
Senior is a headline act in an impressive group of golfers converging on the capital for pro-Am events at the Federal Golf Club on Friday and Millar's tournament at Gold Creek on Saturday and Sunday.
Peter Senior beat Matt Millar in a race for the Australian Masters title in 2015.Credit: Michael Dodge
Senior retired after the Australian Open last year but still plays in tournaments around the country, helping boost the profile of golf in regional centres.
But two years ago his charge at the Australian Masters ended in heartbreak for Canberra's Millar, who surrendered a last-round lead as Senior won the coveted gold jacket.
Both laugh about the sliding doors moment. It was the last big win of Senior's glittering career and a missed opportunity for Millar to spark his career.
"I'd love to have a grudge against Pete, but when I was growing up he was one of my favourites to watch," Millar laughed.
"It's pretty hard to hold a grudge against him. He did what he had to do and I didn't hold my end of the bargain on that Sunday a couple of years ago. Good on him, he's a great guy and great for Australian golf."
Senior added: "We all know how this game goes, you can never tell. Matty has been a good friend of mine and I'm really looking forward to playing in his event."
Senior won a tournament at the Federal Golf Club in the 1980s and is returning to boost the game in the capital, hosting a clinic at 10am on Friday.
He will then play in the Pro-Am in the afternoon before backing up for Millar's two-day event, which will also be raising money for the Ricky Stuart Foundation.
The Federal Pro-Am field boasts Senior, James Nitties, Jordan Zunic, Nathan Green, Andre Stolz and Canberra duo Millar and Brendan Jones.
It also coincides with the start of golf's most prestigious event, the US Masters at Augusta National.
Senior played at the US Masters in 1990, finishing in a tie for 42nd. He won 34 professional titles after turning pro in 1978.
But injuries caught up with him last year and he retired at the end of the Australian Open.
"I'm just looking forward to playing again ... I haven't played much in the last few months so I'll be itching to go," Senior said.
"I'm still playing a lot of smaller events. I'm not going to give the game away completely, I still enjoy the game. But the travel got to me and that's pretty much why I stopped that.
"The trees have grown a bit over the last 30 years, it makes it a bit tighter than when we were here in the 80s."
The US Masters started on Thursday night (AEST), with hopes Jason Day and Adam Scott will challenge for the green jacket.
"We've got three or four really good chances and you never know at the Masters. If you can get something good going early, you can hang on for the rest of the week," Senior said.
CANBERRA PRO-AMS
Friday: Peter Senior clinic at 10am, Pro-Am shotgun start at 12.30pm at Federal Golf Club, Red Hill.
Saturday-Sunday: Matt Millar Pro-Am on both days at Gold Creek Country Club.