Peter Baker began his 2024 Legends Tour campaign in the same fashion he finished it last season in December… The Englishman claimed his sixth Legends Tour title at the inaugural Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam, after beating Australian Scott Hend in a single-hole playoff at Apes Hill.

It was a dramatic final day in the season opener which was not short of movement on the leaderboard and 54 holes wasn’t enough to find a winner either.

Scott Hend recorded a 68 and a 66 at Apes Hill through the opening two rounds and he would go toe-to-toe with Peter Baker throughout the final day.

Two-under-par to the turn, he was level with the man who has been the form player on the Legends Tour over the past year.

However, a bogey at the 10th and a double bogey five on the 16th after finding the water – left him a tough task.

Baker had come into the final day after back-to-back rounds of 67 through the first two days. His final round would see him get to the turn in two under-par and be level for his back nine up until the 18th tee where he would hold a one-shot lead over Hend.

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Baker’s tee shot at the 18th found the fairway bunker and he missed the fairway with his next shot, before three-putting the final green for par. This while Hend made the edge of the green in two and then two putted to get into the clubhouse with a round of 69 – just as Baker did – both on ten under-par.

A play-off followed, down the 9th hole – Baker making par while Hend could only make bogey, ensuring that the man who won four times last season and claimed the MCB Road to Mauritius title – started 2024 in the same manner and layed down a gauntlet for the rest and leaving Baker delighted: “Absolutely brilliant! It was a really tough day for us and it went right down to the wire, If I’m honest, I didn’t really think I was going to win. It was a funny day of just try to hang in there. I didn’t really have all my game with me, but I just tried to not make too many mistakes.

“I just got it a bit right down the 18th. It was a good par to make, but everything was difficult today, so I’m really delighted” said Baker.

“I knew it was really tight and I just felt that it was going to go down all the way to the wire all day. Whether it would be Shaun, Scott or myself, it was just either a good shot here or a bad shot that might make the difference.

“I just thought if I can get a good few days and try to play some good golf, if I can get a chance last day to win then even better. I had a lot of support all the way around – it’s great that they supported me, I’m very grateful for that.”

The prize presentation, on Apes Hill’s 19th green (a fun island green par 3 the members use for deciding tied matches), saw the tournament host Ian Woosnam give his good friend the trophy as well as his prize for winning the MCB Road to Mauritius – a personally engraved Rolex watch.

Image: Getty Images / Phil Inglis