British PGA Matchplay Championship

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Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The British PGA Matchplay Championship was a match play golf tournament that began in 1903 and ran until 1979. Between 1903 and 1969, the event was sponsored by the now defunct British newspaper the News of the World,[1] and was commonly known by the paper's name. Initially organised as the championship of British professionals, the event came to include invited players from other countries – in particular from around the Commonwealth (it was won on four occasions by Australia's Peter Thomson, a record number of victories shared with Dai Rees and James Braid). On occasion, American professionals also took part, notably in 1949 when eight members of the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup side accepted invites to the event, Lloyd Mangrum reaching the semi-finals.

For many years, the event had the richest prize fund in British golf, and certainly in the pre-First World War era, can be considered to have been a "major" championship of its day, as at the time, the British professionals were considered the best players in the world – in 1907 the four semi-finalists were the Great Triumvirate of Harry Vardon, J. H. Taylor and James Braid, along with Ted Ray, who would go on to win both the British and U.S. Opens.

After World War II, the event provided several notable British and Irish players, like Christy O'Connor Snr, Eric Brown and Dave Thomas, with their greatest triumphs, and also became a showcase for the matchplay strength of Neil Coles, who was at least a semi-finalist eleven times in eighteen years, a remarkable achievement considering the field normally comprised 64 and on occasion 128 players.

The tournament was also often notable for remarkable runs to the later stages by veteran players – Max Faulkner was a semi-finalist in 1967 aged 51 and reached the quarter-finals three years later, and in 1969 Dai Rees reached the final aged 56. However, following the establishment of the British PGA Championship (at stroke play) in 1955, the matchplay version lost some of its importance, and the matchplay format fell out of favour with sponsors, who could not guarantee that the final day would feature any "big-name" players to attract a television audience, nor either that the matches would finish at times to coincide with limited scheduled slots for live transmission. The tournament remained an official money event on the European Tour from its first season in 1972, but was discontinued following the 1979 event when a replacement sponsor could not be found after Sun Alliance moved to supporting the stroke play championship instead.[1][2] The last champion was Irishman Des Smyth, who beat a youthful Nick Price in the final.

History

1903

The tournament was announced in August. £200 had been given by the News of the World to the PGA for the competition. The final stage would be at Sunningdale Golf Club from 13 to 15 October and would be a knock-out match-play contest by 32 professionals. Qualification was by a series of 36-hole stroke-play competitions; one for each of the five PGA sections. The number of qualifiers from each section was based on the membership of that section. The Southern section had 16 qualifiers, the Midland and Northern sections had 5 each, the Scottish section 4 and the Irish section 2. The matches in the final stage were over 18 holes except for the final which was over 36 holes. Extra holes were played in the event of a tied match. The winner received £100, the runner-up £30, losing semi-finalists £15 and losing quarter-finalists £10.[3] The semi-finalists also received medals: the winner gold, the runner-up silver and the losing semi-finalists bronze.

In the first round Jack White, third in the 1903 Open Championship lost to Tom Williamson. Later in the day Tom Vardon who had been second in the Open lost to Ted Ray.[4] In the quarter-finals James Braid beat Alfred Toogood at the 19th hole. In the semi-finals Braid won the first two holes against J.H. Taylor and won 4&2. Ray beat George Coburn 4&3 in the other match. They had been level after 7 holes but Ray won the next 4 to take a convincing lead.[5] In the final Braid led by 1 hole after the first round. In the afternoon Braid won 3 of the first 5 holes to go 4 up and, although Ray won the next two, Braid eventually won 4&3.[6]

1914

The final stages were planned for Oxhey Golf Club on 6, 7 and 8 October with the same format and prize money as previously. In mid-August the PGA cancelled the tournament. The Western section had played their qualification tournament on 9 July at which Charles and Ernest Whitcombe qualified.

1919

The arrangements for the 1919 tournament were sorted out at a late stage. In mid-July it was decided that the number of qualifiers for the final stage would be increased from 32 to 64 and the "News of the World" agreed to increase the prize money. The West of England section had already played their qualifying competition under the impression there were 2 places available. They were allocated 4 in the new system. Other sections were allocated the following places: Southern 26, Northern 12, Midland 10, Scotland 5, Welsh 4, Eastern 2 and Irish 1. The tournament was extended to a fourth day with the 32 18-hole first round matches played on the first day. The losing quarter-finalists received £12 10s, third round losers £10, second round losers £7 10s and first round losers £5. Prize money totalled £590.

1921

Prize money was increased to £750 with the winner receiving £200, the runner-up £50, the losing semi-finalists £30, the losing quarter-finalists £15 and third round losers £12 10s.

1925

Prize money was increased to £1,040 with the winner receiving £300, the runner-up £100, the losing semi-finalists £50, the losing quarter-finalists £25 and prizes of £15, £10 and £5 for losers in the first three rounds.

1935

Prize money was increased to £1,250 with the losing quarter-finalists receiving £27 10s and prizes of £20, £15 and £7 10s for losers in the first three rounds.

1939

The final stages were planned for St George's Hill Golf Club from 12 to 15 September with the same format and prize money as previously. Qualifying events had been completed when the PGA cancelled the tournament in early September on the outbreak of World War II.

1940

The cancelled 1939 event was re-arranged for Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club from 30 April to 3 May. The 64 qualifiers for the 1939 tournament were invited although a number were unable to play.

1945

The 1945 event was arranged at short notice and there were no qualifying events. There were 149 entries and the tournament was played at Walton Heath Golf Club from 23 to 27 July. 21 matches were played on the first day to reduce the field to 128. There were 64 matches on the second day and then two rounds were played each day. The final was played over 18 holes for the first time. Both New and Old courses were used for the last-128 and last-64 rounds. Total prize money was £2,000 with the winner receiving £600, the runner-up £200, semi-finalists £100, quarter-finalists £50 and prizes of £30, £15 and £10 for those reaching the last-64 stage.

1946

The 1946 tournament reverted to the earlier format with 64 players qualifying for the knock-out stage played from 25 to 28 September. The final was over 36 holes. Prize money remained at £2,000 with £550 for the winner, £250 for the losing finalist and £120 for the losing semi-finalists.

1947

Prize money was increased to £2,500 with £750 for the winner and £250 for the losing finalist.

1949

Eight American golfers who had played in the 1949 Ryder Cup were added to the 64 qualifiers. The 8 were: Skip Alexander, Jimmy Demaret, Bob Hamilton, Dutch Harrison, Clayton Heafner, Lloyd Mangrum, Johnny Palmer and Sam Snead. The additional players meant that 8 preliminary match had to be played to reduce the field to 64. These matches were played on 20 September, extending the event to a fifth day. Total prize money was £2,620.

1950

The 1949 winner (Dai Rees) and the 1950 Open Champion (Bobby Locke) were exempted from qualifying. Locke did not play but with 64 players reaching the final stage through the sectional qualifying events there were 65 qualifiers. This meant that one preliminary match was needed; the match being played the day before the main event started. Total prize money was £2,530.

1951

The 1950 winner (Dai Rees) and the 1951 Open Champion (Max Faulkner) were exempted from qualifying. With a total of 66 players reaching the final stage, two preliminary matches were played the day before the main event started.

1953

The leaders in the Order of Merit were exempted, increasing the number of qualifiers to 76. 12 first-round matches were played to reduce the field to 64. Total prize money was £2,650.

1955

The leader 10 in the Order of Merit were exempted. 10 first-round matches were played to reduce the field to 64. Total prize money was increased to £3,000, although the first prize remained unchanged at £750.

1956

The number of qualifiers from the sectional events was reduced so that there were just 64 contestants in the final stage. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were extended to 36 holes, the event being played over 5 days from 11 to 15 September.

1957

The format was changed, with the first round matches being over 36 holes, spread over two days. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were reduced again to 18 holes, although the final was still over 36 holes.

1958

The format was changed again. All matches were reduced to 18 holes and the event reduced from 5 days to 4. One round was played on the first two days, the third round and quarter-finals were played on the third day with the semi-finals and final on the final day. This was only the second final, after 1945, to be contested over 18 holes.

1962

Sectional qualifying was dropped and replaced by local qualifying on the two days prior to the knock-out stage. Two courses were used. There was a sudden-death playoff to get exactly 64 qualifiers.

1964

12 players who had competed in the Carling World Open the previous week were exempted from qualifying so that only 52 qualified through local qualifying.

Winners

Year Winner Score Runner-up Winner's
share (£)		 Venue Ref.
Sun Alliance Match Play Championship
1979 Template:Flagicon Des Smyth 1 up Template:Flagicon Nick Price 6,660 Fulford
1978 Template:Flagicon Mark James 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Neil Coles 8,000 Dalmahoy [7]
1977 Template:Flagicon Hugh Baiocchi 6 and 5 Template:Flagicon Brian Huggett 4,000 Stoke Poges [8]
1976 Template:Flagicon Brian Barnes 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Craig Defoy 3,500 Kings Norton [9]
1975 Template:Flagicon Eddie Polland 23 holes Template:Flagicon Peter Butler 3,500 Lindrick [10]
Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship
1974 Template:Flagicon Jack Newton 2 and 1 Template:Flagicon Cesar Sanudo 3,500 Downfield [11]
1973 Template:Flagicon Neil Coles (3) 2 holes Template:Flagicon Doug McClelland 3,500 Hillside [12]
1972 Template:Flagicon John Garner 7 and 6 Template:Flagicon Neil Coles 3,500 Moor Park
1971: No tournament
Long John Scotch Whisky Match Play Championship
1970 Template:Flagicon Tommy Horton 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Ronnie Shade 2,000 Moor Park [13]
News of the World Match Play Championship
1969 Template:Flagicon Maurice Bembridge 6 and 5 Template:Flagicon Dai Rees 1,250 Walton Heath [14]
1968 Template:Flagicon Brian Huggett 1 up Template:Flagicon John Panton 1,250 Walton Heath [15]
1967 Template:Flagicon Peter Thomson (4) 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Dai Rees 1,250 Walton Heath [16]
1966 Template:Flagicon Peter Thomson (3) 2 and 1 Template:Flagicon Neil Coles 1,250 Walton Heath [17]
1965 Template:Flagicon Neil Coles (2) 19 holes Template:Flagicon Lionel Platts 1,250 Walton Heath [18]
1964 Template:Flagicon Neil Coles 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Peter Butler 1,250 Walton Heath [19]
1963 Template:Flagicon Dave Thomas 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon John MacDonald 1,250 Turnberry [20]
1962 Template:Flagicon Eric Brown (2) 19 holes Template:Flagicon Ross Whitehead Walton Heath [21]
1961 Template:Flagicon Peter Thomson (2) 3 and 1 Template:Flagicon Ralph Moffitt Walton Heath
1960 Template:Flagicon Eric Brown 20 holes Template:Flagicon Harry Weetman 750 Turnberry [22]
1959 Template:Flagicon David Snell 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Harry Weetman 750 Royal Birkdale [23]
1958 Template:Flagicon Harry Weetman (2) 1 up Template:Flagicon Bernard Hunt 750 Walton Heath [24]
1957 Template:Flagicon Christy O'Connor Snr 5 and 4 Template:Flagicon Tom Haliburton 750 Turnberry [25]
1956 Template:Flagicon John Panton 1 up Template:Flagicon Harry Weetman 750 Royal Liverpool [26]
1955 Template:Flagicon Ken Bousfield 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Eric Brown 750 Walton Heath [27]
1954 Template:Flagicon Peter Thomson 38 holes Template:Flagicon John Fallon 750 St Andrews [28]
1953 Template:Flagicon Max Faulkner 1 up Template:Flagicon Dai Rees 750 Ganton [29]
1952 Template:Flagicon Fred Daly (3) 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Flory Van Donck 750 Walton Heath [30]
1951 Template:Flagicon Harry Weetman 5 and 4 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Adams 750 Royal Liverpool
1950 Template:Flagicon Dai Rees (4) 7 and 6 Template:Flagicon Frank Jowle 750 Carnoustie [31]
1949 Template:Flagicon Dai Rees (3) 1 up Template:Flagicon Henry Cotton 750 Walton Heath [32]
1948 Template:Flagicon Fred Daly (2) 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Laurie Ayton, Jnr 750 Royal Birkdale
1947 Template:Flagicon Fred Daly 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Flory Van Donck 750 Royal Lytham & St Annes [33]
1946 Template:Flagicon Henry Cotton (3) 8 and 7 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Adams 550 Royal Liverpool [34]
News of the World Match Play
1945 Template:Flagicon Reg Horne 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Percy Alliss 600 Walton Heath [35]
1941–1944: No tournament due to World War II
1940 Template:Flagicon Henry Cotton (2) 37 holes Template:Flagicon Alf Padgham 300 Royal Mid-Surrey [36]
1939: No tournament
1938 Template:Flagicon Dai Rees (2) 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Eddie Whitcombe 300 Walton Heath [37]
1937 Template:Flagicon Percy Alliss (2) 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Adams 300 Stoke Poges [38]
1936 Template:Flagicon Dai Rees 1 up Template:Flagicon Ernest Whitcombe 300 Oxhey [39]
1935 Template:Flagicon Alf Padgham (2) 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Percy Alliss 300 Royal Mid-Surrey [40]
1934 Template:Flagicon Jack Busson 2 up Template:Flagicon Charles Whitcombe 300 Walton Heath [41]
1933 Template:Flagicon Percy Alliss 5 and 4 Template:Flagicon Mark Seymour 300 Purley Downs [42]
1932 Template:Flagicon Henry Cotton 10 and 8 Template:Flagicon Alf Perry 300 Moor Park [43]
1931 Template:Flagicon Alf Padgham 5 and 4 Template:Flagicon Mark Seymour 300 Royal Mid-Surrey [44]
1930 Template:Flagicon Charles Whitcombe (2) 4 and 2 Template:Flagicon Henry Cotton 300 Oxhey [45]
1929 Template:Flagicon Abe Mitchell (3) 8 and 7 Template:Flagicon Philip Rodgers 300 Wentworth [46]
1928 Template:Flagicon Charles Whitcombe 4 and 2 Template:Flagicon Henry Cotton 300 Stoke Poges [47]
1927 Template:Flagicon Archie Compston (2) 8 and 7 Template:Flagicon James Braid 300 Walton Heath [48]
1926 Template:Flagicon Sandy Herd (2) 38 holes Template:Flagicon Jack Bloxham 300 Royal Mid-Surrey [49]
1925 Template:Flagicon Archie Compston 3 and 1 Template:Flagicon George Gadd 300 Moor Park [50]
1924 Template:Flagicon Ernest Whitcombe 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon George Gadd 200 St George's Hill [51]
1923 Template:Flagicon Reg Wilson 4 and 2 Template:Flagicon Thomas Renouf 200 Walton Heath [52]
1922 Template:Flagicon George Gadd 5 and 4 Template:Flagicon Fred Leach 200 Sunningdale [53]
1921 Template:Flagicon Bert Seymour 40 holes Template:Flagicon Jack Gaudin 200 Oxhey [54]
1920 Template:Flagicon Abe Mitchell (2) 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon Josh Taylor 100 Mid-Surrey [55]
1919 Template:Flagicon Abe Mitchell 1 up Template:Flagicon George Duncan 100 Walton Heath [56]
1914–1918: No tournament due to World War I
1913 Template:Flagicon George Duncan 3 and 2 Template:Flagicon James Braid 100 Walton Heath [57]
1912 Template:Flagicon Harry Vardon 1 up Template:Flagicon Ted Ray 100 Sunningdale [58]
1911 Template:Flagicon James Braid (4) 1 up Template:Flagicon Ted Ray 100 Walton Heath [59]
1910 Template:Flagicon James Sherlock 8 and 6 Template:Flagicon George Duncan 100 Sunningdale [60]
1909 Template:Flagicon Tom Ball 7 and 5 Template:Flagicon Sandy Herd 100 Walton Heath [61]
1908 Template:Flagicon J.H. Taylor (2) 2 up Template:Flagicon Fred Robson 100 Mid-Surrey [62]
1907 Template:Flagicon James Braid (3) 4 and 2 Template:Flagicon J.H. Taylor 100 Sunningdale [63]
1906 Template:Flagicon Sandy Herd 8 and 7 Template:Flagicon Charles Mayo 100 Notts [64]
1905 Template:Flagicon James Braid (2) 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Tom Vardon 100 Walton Heath [65]
1904 Template:Flagicon J.H. Taylor 5 and 3 Template:Flagicon Alfred Toogood 100 Mid-Surrey [66]
1903 Template:Flagicon James Braid 4 and 3 Template:Flagicon Ted Ray 100 Sunningdale [6]

See also

References

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External links

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