John Player Classic

John Player Classic
Tournament information
Location United Kingdom
Established 1970
Course(s) Turnberry (1972–73)
Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) (1970)
Tour(s) European Tour
Format Stroke play
Final year 1973
Tournament record score
Aggregate 285 Bob Charles (1972)
To par −2 Christy O'Connor Snr (1970)
Final champion
United States Charles Coody

The John Player Classic was the richest golf tournament in Britain between 1970 and 1973. In 1972 and 1973 it was an event on the fledgling European Tour.

The John Player Classic was first played in 1970 at Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell), when Ireland's Christy O'Connor Snr triumphed by one stroke over England's Tony Jacklin to collect the £25,000 first prize.[1] Having not been held in 1971, the tournament returned as part of the new European Tour in 1972. It also had a change of venue, being moved to Turnberry on the west coast of Scotland.

The tournament was played just once more, in 1973, when American Charles Coody took the title. The second round featured some of the worst conditions ever seen in a professional golf tournament, with a gale-force wind gusting up to 65 mph, and rain falling horizontally.[2]. Marquees and hoardings were destroyed, with several exhibitors tents being uprooted and flung onto the course.[2]

It was cancelled the following year because of conflicting tournament schedules in the United States.[3]

Winners

YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share (£)		Ref
1973Charles Coody United StatesTurnberry289 (+5)3 strokesEngland Tony Jacklin15,000[4]
1972Bob Charles New ZealandTurnberry285 (+1)1 strokeUnited States Gay Brewer
England Peter Oosterhuis		15,000[5]
1971: No tournament
1970Christy O'Connor Snr IrelandNotts Golf Club286 (−2)1 strokeEngland Tony Jacklin25,000[6]

References

  1. ↑ "O'Connor Captures Player Golf Classic". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. 7 September 1970. p. 23.
  2. 1 2 Ward, Andrew (1999). Golf's Strangest Rounds. London: Robson Books. p. 215. ISBN 1861051840.
  3. ↑ "Golf". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 6 March 1974. p. 6D.
  4. ↑ "Another British tournament goes to a foreigner". The Glasgow Herald. 1 October 1973. p. 7.
  5. ↑ "Why victory matter more to Charles than £15,000". The Times. 2 October 1972. p. 11.
  6. ↑ "O'Connor holds off Jacklin and wins £25,000". The Glasgow Herald. 7 September 1970. p. 4.
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