British Masters Explained

Betfred British Masters
Location:Wishaw, Warwickshire, England
Coordinates:52.554°N -1.734°W
Establishment:1946
Course:The Belfry
(Brabazon Course)
Par:72
Yardage:7328yd
Tour:European Tour
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:June/July
Aggregate:260 Paul Dunne (2017)
To-Par:−22 Peter Baker (1993)
Current Champion: Daniel Hillier
Map:UK England#United Kingdom Warwickshire
Map Label:The Belfry
Map Relief:yes
Map Label Position:right
Map Size:200px

The Betfred British Masters is a professional golf tournament. It was founded in 1946 as the Dunlop Masters and was held every year up to 2008, except for 1984. Dunlop's sponsorship ended in 1982, and the name sponsor changed frequently thereafter, with the words "British Masters" usually also in the tournament's official name. The tournament was not held from 2009 to 2014 but returned to the schedule in 2015.

History

The Dunlop Masters was first held in 1946 at Stoneham Golf Club in Southampton, and was a continuation of the Dunlop-Metropolitan Tournament which had been held before World War II. Like the Dunlop-Metropolitan, the Dunlop Masters was a 72-hole end-of-season event with a restricted field. The Dunlop-Metropolitan had been first played in 1934, the same year as The Masters. The event was sponsored by Dunlop from 1946 to 1982, during which time it continued to have a small field with no 36-hole cut. There were 50 competitors in the final Dunlop-sponsored event in 1982.[1]

During the 1980s the British Masters was one of the most lucrative events on the European Tour with a prize fund that was as high as third among the tournaments on the schedule, but its status, or at least its relative level of prize money, has declined considerably in recent years.

The tournament has been played at many different venues; twice in the "Dunlop Masters" era it was held in the Republic of Ireland. When the Quinn Group took over as sponsors in 2006, the event was moved again, this time to the Group owned Belfry.

The deal with the Quinn Group ended in 2008, and when attempts to find another sponsor were unsuccessful, the British Masters was removed from the European Tour schedule for 2009.[2]

Tournament hosts

The event returned in 2015 with a leading British golfer choosing the golf course and hosting the event. Since then the editions have been hosted by:

Notable events

The 1967 event provided British television with its first live hole in one, as Tony Jacklin aced the 16th hole at Royal St George's.[9]

In the 2021 event, Richard Bland, at age 48, claimed his first European Tour victory in his 478th start on the tour.[10]

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
Betfred British Masters
278 −10 2 strokes
278 −10 1 stroke
275 −13 Playoff
266 −18 3 strokes
272 −16 1 stroke
Sky Sports British Masters
279 −9 2 strokes
British Masters
260 −20 3 strokes
266 −18 2 strokes
269 −15 2 strokes
2010–2014: No tournament
Cancelled due to lack of sponsorship
Quinn Insurance British Masters
276 −12 Playoff [11]
Quinn Direct British Masters
273 −15 5 strokes [12]
277 −11 1 stroke [13]
Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters
282 −6 Playoff [14]
Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters
272 −16 3 strokes [15]
274 −14 3 strokes [16]
Victor Chandler British Masters
269 −19 1 stroke [17]
274 −14 Playoff [18]
267 −21 2 strokes [19]
269 −19 1 stroke [20]
One 2 One British Masters
281 −7 1 stroke [21]
275 −13 1 stroke [22]
284 −4 Playoff [23]
Collingtree British Masters
270 −18 1 stroke
Dunhill British Masters
Ian Woosnam (2) 271 −17 4 strokes
266 −22 7 strokes [24]
270 −18 Playoff [25]
Seve Ballesteros (2) 275 −13 3 strokes
270 −18 2 strokes
267 −21 4 strokes
273 −15 2 strokes
274 −14 1 stroke [26]
275 −13 2 strokes [27]
278 −10 3 strokes
Silk Cut Masters
1984: No tournament
269 −15 3 strokes
Dunlop Masters
Greg Norman (2) 267 −17 8 strokes
273 −15 4 strokes
270 −14 5 strokes
283 −5 1 stroke
279 −5 1 stroke
291 +7 Playoff [28]
271 −13 1 stroke
Bernard Gallacher (2) 289 +5 2 strokes
282 −2 Playoff [29]
Tony Jacklin (2) 272 −12 7 strokes [30]
277 −11 2 strokes
1971 273 −11 2 strokes [31]
1970 293 +9 5 strokes [32]
1969 Cobie Legrange (2) 281 3 strokes [33]
1968 Peter Thomson (2) 274 5 strokes [34]
1967 274 3 strokes [35] [36]
1966 278 1 stroke [37]
1965 Bernard Hunt (2) 283 1 stroke [38]
1964 288 1 stroke [39] [40]
1963 282 Playoff [41]
1962 278 2 strokes [42]
1961 284 8 strokes [43]
1960 275 2 strokes [44]
1959 Christy O'Connor Snr (2) 276 4 strokes [45]
1958 Harry Weetman (2) 276 4 strokes [46]
1957 275 3 strokes [47]
1956 277 1 stroke [48]
1955 Harry Bradshaw (2) 277 4 strokes [49]
1954 Bobby Locke (2) 291 3 strokes [50]
1953 272 3 strokes [51]
1952 281 4 strokes [52]
1951 281 4 strokes [53]
1950 281 4 strokes [54]
1949 290 Playoff [55] [56]
1948 272 2 strokes [57]
1947 283 Playoff [58] [59]
1946 286 Title shared Stoneham[60]

Multiple winners

External links

54.986°N -1.804°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Norman bids to turn the tide . . Raymond . Jacobs . 10 June 1982 . 17 . 13 August 2021 . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813132633/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M7dAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4324,2225020 . live .
  2. Web site: British Masters dropped from Tour . . 13 May 2009 . 14 May 2009 . 16 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090516024955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/8048940.stm . live .
  3. Web site: Betfred British Masters to return to Close House in 2020 . PGA European Tour . 12 May 2019 . 12 May 2019 . 12 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190512212257/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season%3D2019/tournamentid%3D2019042/news/newsid%3D369795.html . live .
  4. Web site: Donald to host 2016 British Masters at The Grove . PGA European Tour . 19 October 2015 . 20 October 2015 . 20 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151020142421/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=274995.html . live .
  5. Web site: Justin Rose to host 2018 British Masters at Walton Heath . PGA European Tour . 6 December 2017 . 6 December 2017 . 7 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171207012404/http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018082/news/newsid=338746.html . live .
  6. Web site: European Tour: Tournament schedule for 2021 . Sky Sports . 15 December 2020 . 15 December 2020 . 15 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201215170548/https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12230/12161822/european-tour-tournament-schedule-for-2021 . live .
  7. Web site: DP World Tour: Tournaments, dates, venues and Rolex Series event for historic 2022 season . Sky Sports . 9 November 2021 . 9 November 2021 . 9 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211109212043/https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12230/12464607/dp-world-tour-tournaments-dates-venues-and-rolex-series-event-for-historic-2022-season . live .
  8. Web site: Sir Nick Faldo Announced As The New Betfred British Masters Host Until 2027 . The Sportsman . Conor . Keane . 16 January 2023 . 16 January 2023 . 16 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116105332/https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/sir-nick-faldo-announced-as-the-new-betfred-british-masters-host-until-2027 . live .
  9. News: Tales from the Masters . . Colin . Callander . Chris . Plumridge . 31 May 2003 . 2 February 2011 . 29 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160229095559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/2405029/Tales-from-the-Masters.html . live .
  10. News: British Masters: Richard Bland claims first victory at 478th attempt after play-off at The Belfry . Sky Sports . 15 May 2021 . 1 February 2022 . 1 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220201193215/https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/20876/12307253/british-masters-richard-bland-claims-first-victory-at-478th-attempt-after-play-off-at-the-belfry . live .
  11. Web site: Fernandez-Castano wins at Belfry . . 28 September 2008 . 2 February 2011 . 5 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081005210430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7640740.stm . live .
  12. Web site: Westwood snatches British Masters . . 23 September 2007 . 2 February 2011.
  13. News: Edfors makes two long putts to win British Masters . . . Sutton Coldfield . 14 May 2006 . 2 February 2011.
  14. Web site: Bjorn wins Masters after play-off . . 15 May 2005 . 2 February 2011 . 10 March 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060310165324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/4549331.stm . live .
  15. Web site: Lane clinches Masters title . . 9 May 2004 . 2 February 2011 . 25 May 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060525123631/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/3698867.stm . live .
  16. News: British Masters: Owen holds his nerve to secure first win . . Lewine . Mair . 9 June 2003 . 2 February 2011 . 3 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403000358/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/2405647/British-Masters-Owen-holds-his-nerve-to-secure-first-win.html . live .
  17. Web site: Rose masters Woburn . . 2 June 2002 . 2 February 2011 . 27 August 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030827064602/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/2021832.stm . live .
  18. Web site: Levet wins British Masters . . 3 June 2001 . 2 February 2011 . 17 December 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021217044923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/1367459.stm . live .
  19. News: Masterful Orr capitalises on Montgomerie's shortcomings . . Andy . Farrell . 14 August 2000 . 2 February 2011 . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110154536/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/masterful-orr-capitalises-on-montgomeries-shortcomings-695913.html . live .
  20. News: May makes it 23rd time lucky . . Andy . Farrell . 13 September 1999 . 2 February 2011 . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110154546/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf-may-makes-it-23rd-time-lucky-1118884.html . live .
  21. News: Master Monty closes the gap . . Andy . Farrell . 14 September 1998 . 2 February 2011 . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110154738/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf-master-monty-closes-the-gap-1198172.html . live .
  22. News: Montgomerie charge falls just short . . Andy . Farrell . 22 September 1997 . 2 February 2011 . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110154751/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf-montgomerie-charge-falls-just-short-1240545.html . live .
  23. News: Allenby the play-off king . . Andy . Farrell . 2 September 1996 . 2 February 2011 . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110154802/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/allenby-the-playoff-king-1361376.html . live .
  24. News: Fabulous Baker boy delivers quality goods . . Tim . Glover . 7 June 1993 . 2 February 2011 . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110154840/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf-fabulous-baker-boy-delivers-quality-goods-an-anxious-englishman-finally-fulfils-faldos-prophesy-by-lording-it-over-the-dukes-course-with-a-brilliant-round-1490070.html . live .
  25. News: Shaking off a shocker . . . Terry . O'Connor . 2 June 1992 . 2 February 2011.
  26. News: McNulty grabs British Masters with birdie . . . 8 June 1987 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120523/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NxAhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y3IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4937,1794366 . live .
  27. News: Win gives Seve a timely boost as he heads for US . . 9 June 1986 . 12 . 12 October 2022 . 12 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012072338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jds-AAAAIBAJ&pg=2922,1984904 . live .
  28. News: Hunt wins first pro golf tourney . . . Worksop . 2 October 1977 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120322/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=koVfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9zAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1941,550900 . live .
  29. News: A triumph for mind over matter . . Raymond . Jacobs . 7 October 1974 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330130517/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0_0-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=RE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5710%2C1483027 . live .
  30. News: Tony Jacklin a victim of his own prowess . Raymond . Jacobs . The Glasgow Herald . 8 October 1973 . 7 . 23 October 2023 . 14 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314155241/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b5FAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1882,1838683 . live .
  31. News: Bembridge outlasts Peter Oosterhuis with birdie finish . . Raymond . Jacobs . 4 October 1971 . 2 February 2011 . 8 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308235804/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rtk9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=9kcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6047%2C5801595 . live .
  32. News: Huggett "scrambles" to record 65 and Masters title . . Raymond . Jacobs . 14 September 1970 . 2 February 2011 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404213923/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1ZJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IKUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2151,2645558 . live .
  33. News: Legrange wins from the front . . Raymond . Jacobs . 15 September 1969 . 2 February 2011 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005175724/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j5RAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CqUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1505%2C2627750 . live .
  34. News: Thompson Master golfer for a second time . . Raymond . Jacobs . 16 September 1968 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120605/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5Og9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=oUgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1785%2C2629422 . live .
  35. News: Jacklin arrives at milestone in burgeoning career . . Raymond . Jacobs . 18 September 1967 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120336/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BH9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vaMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1609%2C2917412 . live .
  36. News: 1967-09-18. Top field for women's golf. 14. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2021-06-15. 30 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120608/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106977491. live.
  37. News: N. C. Coles triumphs in Dunlop Masters . . Raymond . Jacobs . 19 September 1966 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120323/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X989AAAAIBAJ&sjid=GEgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1812%2C3019483 . live .
  38. News: Masters title for B. J. Hunt . . 12 . Raymond . Jacobs . 20 September 1965 . 2 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120825/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e2xAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iKMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6108%2C3314427 . live .
  39. News: Legrange cops British Masters . . 48 . 28 June 1964 . 3 February 2011 . 5 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231005180248/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TBgrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ip0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6753%2C6285143 . live .
  40. News: Masters title for Le Grange . . 9 . Raymond . Jacobs . 29 June 1964 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120825/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7GxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1663%2C4309835 . live .
  41. News: Masters title for B. J. Hunt . . 4 . 1 July 1963 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120826/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gm5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1820%2C39913 . live .
  42. News: Rees hold off Thompson's challenge . . 4 . 2 July 1962 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120826/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x5tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2920%2C39336 . live .
  43. News: Thompson shows how to play in the wind . . 9 . Cyril . Horne . 18 September 1961 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120827/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YYVAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vKMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2028%2C2538206 . live .
  44. News: Hitchcock's victory in Masters . . 9 . 19 September 1960 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121043/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=53ZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2958%2C2553437 . live .
  45. News: Second Masters' title for O'Connor . . 9 . Cyril . Horne . 19 September 1960 . 3 February 2011 . 19 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210719090730/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iXdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dKMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1720,2858868 . live .
  46. News: Masters golfer's visit to Scotland . . 3 . Cyril . Horne . 22 September 1958 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330120828/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MjY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=MqYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3539%2C2409379 . live .
  47. News: E. C. Brown's success in Masters tournament . . 11 . 23 September 1957 . 3 February 2011.
  48. News: Irishman beats Scotsman in thrilling finish at Prestwick . . 4 . 21 September 1956 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zmpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rpsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1946%2C2175980 . live .
  49. News: Bradshaw wins "Masters" golf tournament . . 4 . 22 September 1955 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121339/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iD9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dlkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1943%2C2528324 . live .
  50. News: Locke's three-stroke win in Masters' golf . . 4 . 8 October 1954 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121339/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5D9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X1kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4085%2C4101862 . live .
  51. News: Bradshaw wins "Masters" in great finish . . 9 . 9 October 1953 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121340/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_0pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2132%2C3760353 . live .
  52. News: "Master" title and Vardon Trophy . . 9 . 10 October 1952 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121341/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lmdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jZQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4150%2C3834998 . live .
  53. News: Faulkner's splendid golf "double" . . 7 . 12 October 1951 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121341/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_1tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GosMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2654%2C3804214 . live .
  54. News: D. J. Rees wins Masters' tournament . . 9 . 13 October 1950 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121341/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3tg-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=6UwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5806%2C2993096 . live .
  55. News: Ward and J. Burton tie at St Andrews . . 9 . 7 October 1949 . 3 February 2011 . 17 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317205455/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2eE-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=zkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4988,2530847 . live .
  56. News: C. H. Ward's winning rally at St Andrews . . 2 . 8 October 1949 . 3 February 2011 . 17 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317205455/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2uE-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=zkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5695,2557215 . live .
  57. News: Von Nida plays 'greatest round of my life' . . 2 . 8 October 1948 . 3 February 2011.
  58. News: Lees and Von Nida tie for "Masters" title . . 2 . 10 October 1947 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121853/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yGdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kJQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5249%2C2122743 . live .
  59. News: Von Nida meets his Master . . 2 . 11 October 1947 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121854/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yWdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kJQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4859%2C2192791 . live .
  60. News: Adams ties with Locke . . 2 . 11 October 1946 . 3 February 2011 . 30 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240330121854/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XYJDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aJEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6380%2C2219983 . live .

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