1911 News of the World Match Play explained

Lang:uk
1911 News of the World Match Play
Dates:3–5 October 1911
Location:Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, England
Course:Walton Heath Golf Club
Org:The PGA
Field:32 players
Format:Match play – 18 holes
(Final 36 holes)
Purse:£400
Winners Share:£100
Champion: James Braid
Score:def. Ted Ray 1 up
Previous:1910
Next:1912

The 1911 News of the World Match Play was the ninth News of the World Match Play tournament, played from 3 to 5 October 1911 at the Walton Heath Golf Club. 32 players competed in a straight knock-out competition, with each match contested over 18 holes, except for the final which was over 36 holes. The winner received £100 out of a total prize fund of £400. James Braid defeated Ted Ray by 1 hole in the final to win the tournament.

Qualification

Entry was restricted to members of the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA). Qualification was by a series of 36-hole stroke-play competitions; one for each of the eight PGA sections. The Southern section had 12 qualifiers, the Northern section 7, the Midland section 5, the Scottish, Welsh and Western sections 2 and the Eastern and Irish sections 1. Because of the large number of entries in the Southern section, two events were run with 6 qualifiers at each venue. Compared to 1910, the number of qualifiers from the Southern section was reduced by one with the Midland section increasing by one. In the event of a tie for places there was a playoff.

The qualifiers were:

Format

The format was unchanged. Matches were over 18 holes except for the final which was over 36 holes. Extra holes were played in the event of a tied match. Two rounds were played on the first day, two more on the second day with the final on the third day.

Results

Source:[1] [2] [3] [4]

w/o = Walk over

Prize money

Prize money was increased to £400. The winner still received £100 and a gold medal, but the runner-up now received £40 and a silver medal, losing semi-finalists £20 and a bronze medal, losing quarter-finalists £15, second round losers £10 and first round losers £5. The new distribution meant that all 32 qualifiers for the final stages received at least £5.

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: The Times . 3 October 1911 . 10 . Golf – Professional tournament for £400.
  2. News: Golf – The £400 tourney – Last year's winner beaten . . 4 Oct 1911 . 14.
  3. News: Golf – The £400 tournament – Defeat of the Open Champion . . 5 Oct 1911 . 15.
  4. News: Golf – The £400 tournament – Braid beats Ray . . 6 Oct 1911 . 15.