'Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe' Winner, Cast
The series was taped at Carnoustie Golf Club in Carnoustie, Scotland, in Los Angeles, California, in June 2005. It premiered on Golf Channel on September 13, 2005, and ran for 13, one-hour episodes. Vince Cellini and Stephanie Sparks were the hosts. The cast was comprised of 12 golfers, all men.
Winner of Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe
Paul Holtby, of Team USA, was the champion of Big Break IV.The Big Break IV concluded with an 18-hole, match-play championship match between Paul and Guy Woodman of Team Europe. It was a tight match that Paul led 2-up with three holes to play. Holtby could have won it on the 17th with a 3-foot putt, but missed, sending the match to the 18th. There, Paul faced a 12-footer to win. If he missed, Guy would take the match to extra holes. But this time, Paul made the putt and won the match, 1-up.
Prizes earned by the champion: For winning, Holtby earned a two-year lease on a Ford Explorer, a Bridgestone playing contract, and a $5,000 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods. More importantly, he was given entry into two tournaments on the European Tour's 2006 schedule, the Algarve Open and Wales Open.
How Holtby fared in his tour exemptions: He mostly played well, but missed the cut in both tournaments. In the 2006 Algarve Open, Holtby shot 76-69 for a 1-over total of 145. In the 2006 Wales Open, he shot 73-69 for a 4-over total of 142.
Cast Members of 'Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe'
The 12 golfers in the cast were separated into two teams. On Team USA were (cities are the residences at the time the series originally aired):- David Carnell, Park Forest, Illinois. Eliminated in Episode 4.
- Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey, Bishopville, South Carolina. Eliminated in Episode 6. (Gainey later appeared on Big Break VII: Reunion and won.)
- Paul Holtby, Simi Valley, California. Winner.
- Randall Hunt, Arlington, Texas. Eliminated in Episode 8.
- Bart Lower, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Eliminated in Episode 2. (Lower had previously competed on Big Break II.)
- T.J. Valentine, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Eliminated in Episode 12.
- Warren Bladon, Leamington Spa, England. Eliminated in Episode 9.
- Thomas Blankvoort, Wassenaar, Netherlands. Eliminated in Episode 12.
- Edoardo Gardino, Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Eliminated in Episode 5. (Gardino later appeared on Big Break VII: Reunion.)
- Richard Gillot, Paris, France. Eliminated in Episode 3.
- Marty Wilde Jr., Tewin, England. Eliminated in Episode 10.
- Guy Woodman, Old Windsor, England. Eliminated in Episode 13.
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