The Esso Golden Tournament was a golf tournament on the British PGA circuit from 1961 to 1967. It was played in a round-robin format at the Moor Park Golf Club in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England. The event was sponsored by Esso, and was cancelled in 1968 when they terminated their sponsorship following disagreements with the PGA.
There were 15 competitors in each tournament who played each of the other 14 in an 18-hole match play contest. Most matches were played as a three-ball with three players playing a match against one another, each player playing two distinct matches. Some matches were played as ordinary singles match play. Two points were awarded for each match won while halved matches earned one point.
Prize money for each tournament was £5,700. Players received £20 for each point won, a total of £4,200 for the 210 matches. In addition, the first four in the final table received prize money of £750, £400, £250 and £100.
A similar round-robin tournament, the Penfold Professional Golf League, was played in 1938 and 1939, while the Goodall Palm Beach Round Robin, was played on the PGA Tour from 1938 to 1957. Round-robin tournaments became popular at this time with the Royal Gold Tournament contested in 1962 and Hennessy Round-robin Tournament being played in 1964.
Winners Year Winner Country Score Marginof victory Runner(s)-up Winner'sshare (£) Ref 1961 Dave ThomasPeter Thomson 21 Tie 995(each) 1962 Dave Thomas 19 1 point Jimmy Hitchcock Kel Nagle Peter Thomson 1,130 1963 Kel Nagle 23 2 points Bernard Hunt Peter Thomson Harry Weetman 1,210 1964 Peter Alliss 25 7 points Christy O'Connor Snr Dave Thomas 1,250 1965 George Will 24 4 points Dave Thomas 1,230 1966 Dave Thomas 23 2 points Neil Coles 1,210 1967 Kel NaglePeter Thomson 20 Tie 975(each) 1968 Tournament cancelled
The winner's share includes £20 won for each point.
References
External links Results on where2golf.com