British Masters
File:British Masters logo.png | |
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | Walton-on-the-Hill, England |
Established | 1946 |
Course(s) | Walton Heath Golf Club |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,394 yards (6,761 m) |
Tour(s) | European Tour |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | £3,000,000 |
Month played | October |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 260 Paul Dunne (2017) |
To par | −22 Peter Baker (1993) |
Current champion | |
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The British Masters is a professional golf tournament. It was founded in 1946 as the Dunlop Masters and was held every year up to 2008, except for 1984. Dunlop's sponsorship ended in 1982, and the name sponsor changed frequently thereafter, with the word "British" usually also in the tournament's official name.
The tournament was not held from 2009 to 2014 but returned to the schedule in 2015. The 2015 event was held at Woburn and was won by Matthew Fitzpatrick. Alex Norén won in 2016 at The Grove while Paul Dunne won in 2017 at Close House Golf Club with a record score of 260.
History
The Dunlop Masters was first held in 1946 and was a continuation of the Dunlop-Metropolitan Tournament which had been held before World War II. Like the Dunlop-Metropolitan, the Dunlop Masters was a 72-hole end-of-season event with a restricted field. The Dunlop-Metropolitan was first played in 1934, the same year as The Masters.
During the 1980s the British Masters was one of the most lucrative events on the European Tour with a prize fund that was as high as third among the tournaments on the schedule, but its status, or at least its relative level of prize money, has declined considerably in recent years.
The tournament has been played at many different venues; twice in the "Dunlop Masters" era it was held in the Republic of Ireland. When the Quinn Group took over as sponsors in 2006, the event was moved again, this time to the Group owned Belfry.
The deal with the Quinn Group ended in 2008, and when attempts to find another sponsor were unsuccessful, the British Masters was removed from the European Tour schedule for 2009.[1]
The event returned in 2015, being played at Woburn and hosted by golfer Ian Poulter. The 2016 edition was played at The Grove and hosted by Luke Donald.[2] The 2017 tournament was played at Close House Golf Club and hosted by Lee Westwood. The 2018 tournament will be played at Walton Heath Golf Club and hosted by Justin Rose.[3]
The 1967 event was notable for providing British television with its first live hole in one, as Tony Jacklin aced the 16th hole at Royal St George's.[4]
Winners
- Pre-European Tour
Multiple winners
- 2 wins: Seve Ballesteros, Harry Bradshaw, Bernard Gallacher, Bernard Hunt, Tony Jacklin, Cobie Legrange, Bobby Locke, Greg Norman, Christy O'Connor Snr, Dai Rees, Peter Thomson, Harry Weetman, Ian Woosnam
References
- ^ "British Masters dropped from Tour". BBC Sport. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Donald to host 2016 British Masters at The Grove". PGA European Tour. 19 October 2015.
- ^ "Justin Rose to host 2018 British Masters at Walton Heath". PGA European Tour. 6 December 2017.
- ^ a b Callander, Colin; Plumridge, Chris (31 May 2003). "Tales from the Masters". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Fernandez-Castano wins at Belfry". BBC Sport. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Westwood snatches British Masters". BBC Sport. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Edfors makes two long putts to win British Masters". USA Today. Sutton Coldfield. Associated Press. 14 May 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Bjorn wins Masters after play-off". BBC Sport. 15 May 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Lane clinches Masters title". BBC Sport. 9 May 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Mair, Lewine (9 June 2003). "British Masters: Owen holds his nerve to secure first win". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Rose masters Woburn". BBC Sport. 2 June 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Levet wins British Masters". BBC Sport. 3 June 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Farrell, Andy (14 August 2000). "Masterful Orr capitalises on Montgomerie's shortcomings". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Farrell, Andy (13 September 1999). "May makes it 23rd time lucky". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Farrell, Andy (14 September 1998). "Master Monty closes the gap". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Farrell, Andy (22 September 1997). "Montgomerie charge falls just short". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Farrell, Andy (2 September 1996). "Allenby the play-off king". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Glover, Tim (7 June 1993). "Fabulous Baker boy delivers quality goods". The Independent. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ O'Connor, Terry (2 June 1992). "Shaking off a shocker". The Gainesville Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "McNulty grabs British Masters with birdie". The Schenectady Gazette. United Press International. 8 June 1987. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Hunt wins first pro golf tourney". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Worksop. Associated Press. 2 October 1977. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (7 October 1974). "A triumph for mind over matter". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (4 October 1971). "Bembridge outlasts Peter Oosterhuis with birdie finish". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (14 September 1970). "Huggett "scrambles" to record 65 and Masters title". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (15 September 1969). "Legrange wins from the front". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (16 September 1968). "Thompson Master golfer for a second time". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (18 September 1967). "Jacklin arrives at milestone in burgeoning career". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (19 September 1966). "N. C. Coles triumphs in Dunlop Masters". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (20 September 1965). "Masters title for B. J. Hunt". Glasgow Herald. p. 12. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Legrange cops British Masters". Reading Eagle. 28 June 1964. p. 48. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Raymond (29 June 1964). "Masters title for Le Grange". Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Masters title for B. J. Hunt". Glasgow Herald. 1 July 1963. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Rees hold off Thompson's challenge". Glasgow Herald. 2 July 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ Horne, Cyril (18 September 1961). "Thompson shows how to play in the wind". Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Hitchcock's victory in Masters". Glasgow Herald. 19 September 1960. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ Horne, Cyril (19 September 1960). "Second Masters' title for O'Connor". Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ Horne, Cyril (22 September 1958). "Masters golfer's visit to Scotland". Glasgow Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "E. C. Brown's success in Masters tournament". Glasgow Herald. 23 September 1957. p. 11. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Irishman beats Scotsman in thrilling finish at Prestwick". Glasgow Herald. 21 September 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Bradshaw wins "Masters" golf tournament". Glasgow Herald. 22 September 1955. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Locke's three-stroke win in Masters' golf". Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Bradshaw wins "Masters" in great finish". Glasgow Herald. 9 October 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ ""Master" title and Vardon Trophy". Glasgow Herald. 10 October 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Faulkner's splendid golf "double"". Glasgow Herald. 12 October 1951. p. 7. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "D. J. Rees wins Masters' tournament". Glasgow Herald. 13 October 1950. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Ward and J. Burton tie at St Andrews". Glasgow Herald. 7 October 1949. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "C. H. Ward's winning rally at St Andrews". Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Von Nida plays 'greatest round of my life'". Glasgow Herald. 8 October 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Lees and Von Nida tie for "Masters" title". Glasgow Herald. 10 October 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Von Nida meets his Master". Glasgow Herald. 11 October 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Adams ties with Locke". Glasgow Herald. 11 October 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2011.