The 1979 European Tour, titled as the 1979 PGA European Golf Tour, was the eighth season of the European Tour, the main professional golf tour in Europe since its inaugural season in 1972.
Changes for 1979 There were several changes from the previous season, with the addition of the Welsh Golf Classic and Lada English Golf Classic. A new team event was also planned for France, replacing the Sumrie Better-Ball, but it was not held.
Schedule The following table lists official events during the 1979 season.
DateTournamentHost countryPurse(£)WinnerNotes15 AprPortuguese OpenPortugal28,810 Brian Barnes (7)15 AprMasters TournamentUnited StatesUS$299,625 Fuzzy Zoeller (n/a)Major championship22 AprSpanish OpenSpain35,000 Dale Hayes (4)29 AprMadrid OpenSpain33,000 Simon Hobday (2)6 MayItalian OpenItaly33,500 Brian Barnes (8)13 MayFrench OpenFrance33,500 Bernard Gallacher (5)20 MayColgate PGA ChampionshipEngland50,000 Vicente Fernández (2)28 MayMartini InternationalEngland42,000 Greg Norman (2)3 JunB.A./Avis OpenJersey30,000 Sandy Lyle (1)10 JunBelgian OpenBelgium32,300 Gavan Levenson (1)17 JunWelsh Golf ClassicWales30,000 Mark James (2)New tournament17 JunU.S. OpenUnited StatesUS$325,000 Hale Irwin (n/a)Major championship24 JunGreater Manchester OpenEngland30,000 Mark McNulty (1)1 JulLada English Golf ClassicEngland50,000 Seve Ballesteros (9)New tournament8 JulScandinavian Enterprise OpenSweden35,000 Sandy Lyle (2)21 JulThe Open ChampionshipScotland155,000 Seve Ballesteros (10)Major championship29 JulDutch OpenNetherlands35,000 Graham Marsh (5)5 AugSun Alliance Match Play ChampionshipScotland40,000 Des Smyth (1)5 AugPGA ChampionshipUnited StatesUS$350,000 David Graham (n/a)Major championship12 AugBenson & Hedges International OpenEngland60,000 Maurice Bembridge (6)19 AugBraun German OpenWest Germany32,000 Tony Jacklin (6)26 AugCarroll's Irish OpenIreland60,000 Mark James (3)2 SepSwiss OpenSwitzerland48,400 Hugh Baiocchi (5)9 SepEuropean Open ChampionshipEngland105,000 Sandy Lyle (3)23 SepSOS Talisman TPCEngland50,000 Michael King (1)6 OctDunlop MastersWales60,000 Graham Marsh (6)
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)Notes18 AugNews of the World Under-23 Match Play ChampionshipEngland10,000 Ian Woosnam16 SepRyder CupUnited Statesn/a Team USATeam event30 SepCacharel World Under-25 ChampionshipFrance20,000 Bernhard Langer14 OctSuntory World Match Play ChampionshipEngland110,000 Bill RogersLimited-field event28 OctTrophée LancômeFrance25,000 Johnny Miller11 NovWorld CupGreecen/a Hale Irwin and John MahaffeyTeam eventWorld Cup Individual Trophy Hale Irwin
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 Sandy Lyle 39,808 49,2332 Seve Ballesteros 37,026 47,4113 Mark James 32,494 38,5344 Dale Hayes 30,031 32,5405 Michael King 26,283 29,7256 Brian Barnes 26,218 28,2047 Ken Brown 22,991 25,4078 Antonio Garrido 21,825 24,6659 Tony Jacklin 20,505 22,17910 Neil Coles 19,186 21,351
Awards AwardWinner Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Mike Miller
Notes
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