News of the World Match Play Golf Tournament

The News of the World Match Play tournament was the most prestigious tournament in Britain other than the British Open for much of its early history, declining in stature only beginning in the 1950s. ... It was one of the oldest events other than the Open, first played in 1903. ... Its winners in those early years included J.H. Taylor, James Braid and Harry Vardon. ... Braid won four times, as did Peter Thomson and Dai Rees, the tournament record. ... When Sandy Herd won it in 1926, he was 58 years old. That is believed to still be the record for oldest winner of a significant tournament on a major world (non-senior) tour.

First played: 1903

Last played: 1979

Also known as: Often called the British PGA Match Play or British Professional Match Play, although it was never officially named either of those. After the News of the World (a newspaper) dropped its sponsorship following the 1969 tournament, its official names included Long John Scotch Whisky Match Play Championship, Benson & Hedges Match Play Championship, Sun Alliance Match Play Championship and Sun Alliance European Match Play Championship.

Winners of the News of the World Match Play

1979 — Des Smyth
1978 — Mark James
1977 — Hugh Baiocchi
1976 — Brian Barnes
1975 — Eddie Polland
1974 — Jack Newton
1973 — Neil Coles
1972 — John Garner
1971 — Not played
1970 — Tommy Horton
1969 — Maurice Bembridge
1968 — Brian Huggett
1967 — Peter Thomson
1966 — Peter Thomson
1965 — Neil Coles
1964 — Neil Coles
1963 — Dave Thomas
1962 — Eric Brown
1961 — Peter Thomson
1960 — Eric Brown
1959 — David Snell
1958 — Harry Weetman
1957 — Christy O'Connor Sr.
1956 — John Panton
1955 — Ken Bousfield
1954 — Peter Thomson
1953 — Max Faulkner
1952 — Fred Daly
1951 — Harry Weetman
1950 — Dai Rees
1949 — Dai Rees
1948 — Fred Daly
1947 — Fred Daly
1946 — Henry Cotton
1945 — Reg Horne
1941-44 — Not played
1940 — Henry Cotton
1939 — Not played
1938 — Dai Rees
1937 — Percy Alliss
1936 — Dai Rees
1935 — Alf Padgham
1934 — J.J. Busson
1933 — Percy Alliss
1932 — Henry Cotton
1931 — Alf Padgham
1930 — Charles Whitcombe
1929 — Abe Mitchell
1928 — Charles Whitcombe
1927 — Archie Compston
1926 — Sandy Herd
1925 — Archie Compston
1924 — Ernest Whitcombe
1923 — Reg Wilson
1922 — George Gadd
1921 — Bert Seymour
1920 — Abe Mitchell
1919 — Abe Mitchell
1914-18 — Not played
1913 — George Duncan
1912 — Harry Vardon
1911 — James Braid
1910 — James Sherlock
1909 — Tom Ball
1908 — J.H. Taylor
1907 — James Braid
1906 — Sandy Herd
1905 — James Braid
1904 — J.H. Taylor
1903 — James Braid

Golf Courses: Played at the top clubs around Britain, usually a different club each year. Walton Heath, Sunningdale and Royal Mid-Surrey were among the most common hosts, but many of the Open rota links also had their turns.