The 1972 European Tour, titled as the 1972 PGA European Tour, was the inaugural season of the European Tour, the main professional golf tour in Europe.
Changes for 1972 There were several changes from the previous year's British PGA circuit schedule, with the inclusion of the Madrid Open, the Dutch Open and the Lancia d'Oro tournament; they joined the five national opens in continental Europe that were included in 1971. Also added were the John Player Trophy and the Sunbeam Electric Scottish Open, as well as the returning John Player Classic and Sumrie Better-Ball tournaments; lost from the calendar were the Agfa-Gevaert Tournament, the Classic International, the Daks Tournament and the Gallaher Ulster Open.
According to the United Press International, the circuit exceeded $1,000,000 in total prize money for the first time.
Schedule The following table lists official events during the 1972 season.
DateTournamentHost countryPurse(£)WinnerNotes9 AprMasters TournamentUnited StatesUS$204,649 Jack Nicklaus (n/a)Major championship15 AprSpanish OpenSpain10,060 Antonio Garrido (1)22 AprMadrid OpenSpain10,060 Jimmy Kinsella (1)27 AprPiccadilly MedalEngland12,000 Tommy Horton (1)13 MayPenfold-Bournemouth TournamentEngland8,000 Peter Oosterhuis (1)27 MayJohn Player TrophyEngland8,000 Ross Whitehead (1)10 JunMartini InternationalEngland8,000 Brian Barnes (1)20 JunU.S. OpenUnited StatesUS$200,000 Jack Nicklaus (n/a)Major championship25 JunCarroll's InternationalIreland15,000 Christy O'Connor Snr (1)1 JulSunbeam Electric Scottish OpenScotland10,000 Neil Coles (1)15 JulThe Open ChampionshipScotland50,000 Lee Trevino (n/a)Major championship23 JulFrench OpenFrance11,020 Barry Jaeckel (1)30 JulSwiss OpenSwitzerland10,240 Graham Marsh (1)6 AugGerman OpenWest Germany11,600 Graham Marsh (2)6 AugPGA ChampionshipUnited StatesUS$225,000 Gary Player (n/a)Major championship13 AugDutch OpenNetherlands10,700 Jack Newton (1)19 AugBenson & Hedges Festival of GolfEngland15,000 Jack Newton (2)26 AugViyella PGA ChampionshipEngland15,000 Tony Jacklin (1)16 SepBenson & Hedges Match Play ChampionshipEngland20,000 John Garner (1)23 SepW.D. & H.O. Wills TournamentScotland15,000 Peter Thomson (1)30 SepJohn Player ClassicScotland56,550 Bob Charles (1)7 OctDunlop MastersEngland15,000 Bob Charles (2)15 OctItalian OpenItaly15,000 Norman Wood (1)22 OctLancia d'OroItaly10,700 José María Cañizares (1)
Unofficial events The following events were sanctioned by the European Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.
DateTournamentHost countryPurse(£)Winner(s)Notes20 MaySumrie Better-BallEngland8,000 Malcolm Gregson and Brian HuggettTeam event3 JunCoca-Cola Young Professionals' ChampionshipEngland4,000 Peter Oosterhuis2 SepDouble Diamond InternationalEngland15,000 Team EnglandTeam event8 SepLord Derby's Under-25 Match Play ChampionshipEngland2,255 Sam Torrance14 OctPiccadilly World Match Play ChampionshipEngland25,000 Tom WeiskopfLimited-field event12 NovWorld CupAustraliaUS$2,000 Hsieh Min-Nan and Lu Liang-HuanTeam eventWorld Cup Individual TrophyUS$1,000 Hsieh Min-Nan
Order of Merit The Order of Merit was based on tournament results during the season, calculated using a points-based system.
Position Player Points Prize money (£)1 Peter Oosterhuis 1,751 18,5252 Guy Hunt 1,710 9,8093 Brian Huggett 1,702 10,1674 Peter Townsend 1,640 8,5925 Jack Newton 1,637 8,8996 John Garner 1,616 8,0067 Peter Butler 1,614 8,3768 Brian Barnes 1,603 9,1049 Neil Coles 1,597 8,62910 Clive Clark 1,575 5,831
Awards AwardWinner Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Sam Torrance
Notes
References
External links