How Many of These Golf Events Have You Attended
By: Kieran Clark | Thu 19 Sep 2024
Back in 1984, the PGA European Tour became independent of The Professional Golfers' Association, which was coincidentally the same year that the flagship PGA Championship returned to Wentworth in Surrey, where it has been played ever since.
Marking that anniversary, we've charted back 40 years of history to pick out some of the most prominent tournaments that have been staged in the UK & Ireland, many of which you are sure to have experienced yourself at some point.
Reflecting on your own connection to the game, many of us can recall formative days out at a professional event, seeing the stars up close, sampling the atmosphere, and perhaps leaving the venue with a sense of deep inspiration imprinted in your mind and heart.
But how much of a committed attendee have you been? Why not see how many of these DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) events you have ticked off through the years to discover just how much of a golf fan you really are?!
PGA Championship
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Since 1984, the PGA Championship has been played at Wentworth, featuring sponsors like BMW, Volvo and Whyte & Mackay. If you've been to this event at some point, give yourself ONE POINT.
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship / Dunhill Links
It's been a pro-am since 2001, but previously the annual Dunhill stop at St Andrews was an engaging team event between different nations. If you have attended the Dunhill Links in its current form, give yourself ONE POINT, and if you were at the old Dunhill Cup back in the day, give yourself another ONE POINT!
British Masters
This tournament has boasted many sponsors through the years, from Dunlop to Dunhill, Quinn Direct, Sky Sports and Betfred and has been played at venues including Woburn, Forest of Arden, Walton Heath and The Belfry. If you have been at any of them through the decades - give yourself ONE POINT!
Scottish Open
We're going to break this into a possible three points. Since 2011, the Scottish Open has been played on a links course, including Castle Stuart, Gullane and more recently the Renaissance Club. If you've been to any of these, give yourself ONE POINT. Before that, the Scottish Open was staged at Loch Lomond (sometimes under a different name) between 1996 and 2010. If you were at any of those, give yourself ONE POINT. And if you were at any of the old Bell's Scottish Opens at Haggs Castle, Gleneagles or Carnoustie between 1986 and 1996, give yourself another ONE POINT!
The Open Championship
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
It's the game's oldest and greatest championship - partly because it rotates between incredible golf courses each year. Give yourself ONE POINT for each venue you've seen an Open at in person, from 1984 onwards, which gives you possible points for St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal St George's, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Birkdale, and Royal Portrush. Which is a possible TEN POINTS.
The Irish Open
From Portmarnock to Royal County Down and Lahinch, the Irish Open has been played at many wonderful golf courses. If you've been to any of these events, give yourself ONE POINT!
The Wales Open
Played between 2000 and 2022, if you went to any of the Wales Opens at Celtic Manor, give yourself ONE POINT!
The Ryder Cup
We've got to include the Ryder Cup - but only for venues since 1984 in the UK & Ireland. Give yourself ONE POINT EACH for any Ryder Cup you've been to from 1985 at The Belfry, 1989 at The Belfry, 1993 at The Belfry, 2002 at The Belfry, 2006 at The K Club, 2010 at Celtic Manor, and 2014 at Gleneagles. Possible SEVEN POINTS!
Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Also known as the Diageo Championship and Scottish PGA Championship, Gleneagles was part of the European Tour schedule between 1999 and 2013. Give yourself ONE POINT if you have been to any of them!
European Open
Naturally, the European Open has been all over the place, but if you went to any of them staged in the UK at The London Club, East Sussex National, Sunningdale, and Walton Heath, or in Ireland at The K Club (between 1995 and 2007), then give yourself ONE POINT!
World Match Play Championship
Part of the schedule for decades, the World Match Play at Wentworth was such a popular event. If you went to any of them between 1984 and 2007, give yourself ONE POINT!
WGC American Express Championship
The WGC-American Express Championship was at The Grove in 2006 (won by Tiger Woods), Mount Juliet in 2004 (won by Ernie Els) and again at Mount Juliet in 2002 (also won by Tiger Woods). If you were at any of them, give yourself ONE POINT!
Benson & Hedges International Open
The Benson & Hedges was staged at the likes of Fulford, St Mellion, The Oxfordshire and The Belfry up to 2003. If you attended any of those tournaments, give yourself ONE POINT!
English Open
Held between 1988 and 2002, the English Open was at places like Forest of Arden, Hanbury Manor and The Belfry. If you were at any of them - or the revived Cazoo Classic in 2021 or 2022 - give yourself ONE POINT!
Great North Open
This event was staged between 1996 and 2002 and was also known as the European Grand Prix and Northumberland Challenge. If you went to any of them, give yourself ONE POINT!
European Pro-Celebrity / Wang Four Stars / London Standard Four Stars National Pro-Celebrity / Four Stars National Pro-Celebrity
This event had several names from 1985 to 1991, being mostly played at Moor Park. If you were at any of these, give yourself ONE POINT!
Epson Grand Prix of Europe
Staged at St Pierre Hotel & Country Club between 1986 and 1991, if you attended any of those years, give yourself ONE POINT!
Car Care Plan International
Held at Moortown in 1984, 1985 and 1986, the winners were Nick Faldo, D.J. Russell and Mark Mouland. If you saw any of those events in Yorkshire, give yourself ONE POINT!
Lawrence Batley International
Contested at The Belfry and finally Royal Birkdale, did you attend any of the Lawrence Batley Internationals between 1984 and 1987? If so, give yourself ONE POINT!
Glasgow Open
Finally, the Glasgow Open was at Haggs Castle for three years during the 1980s. Did you experience any of them? If yes, give yourself ONE POINT!
If you have been keeping track, count up the number of points you've got and see which category you belong to!
Possible 38 Points
1-5 Points = You've only dipped your toe in occasionally!
6-10 Points = You've been around a little bit!
11-18 Points = You're a committed golf fan!
19-25 Points = Going to golf events is one of your favourite things!
26-38 Points = You are a die-hard veteran of golf tournaments!
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Tags: european tour dp world tour
