1976 Tournament Players Championship

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1976 Tournament Players Championship
Tournament information
DatesFebruary 26 –
March 1, 1976
Location Lauderhill, Florida, U.S.
26°10′23″N80°14′10″W / 26.173°N 80.236°W / 26.173; -80.236
Course(s) Inverrary Country Club
East Course [1]
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Statistics
Par72
Length7,128 yards (6,518 m) [2]
Field143 players, 81 after cut
Cut145 (+1)
Prize fund $300,000
Winner's share$60,000
Champion
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus
269 (−19)
Location map
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Icona golf.svg
Inverrary CC
Location in the United States
USA Florida relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Inverrary CC
Location in Florida
←  1975
1977  →

The 1976 Tournament Players Championship was a golf tournament in Florida on the PGA Tour, held February 26 to March 1 at Inverrary Country Club in Lauderhill, northwest of Fort Lauderdale. This was the third Tournament Players Championship; [3] Jack Nicklaus won his second title, three strokes ahead of runner-up J. C. Snead, [2] [4] similar to his 1974 win.

Contents

Saturday was washed out by a thunderstorm; the third round was on Sunday and the final round on Monday. [5] [6]

Defending champion Al Geiberger finished fifteen strokes back, in a tie for 24th place.

The first two editions had been played in late summer, after the major championships; this year's began in late February. This was the final year the Tournament Players Championship name was attached to an established PGA Tour event. [1]

Venue

This was the only Tournament Players Championship held in south Florida; the first was in Georgia and the second in Texas. It relocated to northeast Florida at Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, where it became a standalone event for the first time. The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, which is currently played in the Palm Beach area since 2003, was originally hosted by Inverrary from 1972 through 1983. The tournament recognises the 1976 Players Championship winner as a winner of their tournament, as from 1974-76, an established tournament was given the title with special qualifications.

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, February 26, 1976
Friday, February 27, 1976

PlacePlayerScoreTo par
T1 Flag of the United States.svg Fred Marti 66−6
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus
T3 Flag of the United States.svg Barry Jaeckel 67−5
Flag of the United States.svg Don January
Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson
T7 Flag of the United States.svg George Burns 68−4
Flag of the United States.svg Dale Douglass
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Gilder
Flag of the United States.svg John Mahaffey
Flag of the United States.svg Ed Sneed

Source: [7]

Second round

Friday, February 27, 1976

PlacePlayerScoreTo par
1 Flag of the United States.svg Don January 67-68=135−9
T2 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus 66-70=136−8
Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead 67-69=136
T4 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Masserio 69-68=137−7
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson 67-70=137
T6 Flag of the United States.svg Butch Baird 71-67=138−6
Flag of the United States.svg George Burns 71-67=138
Flag of the United States.svg Dale Douglass 68-70=138
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hayes 71-67=138
Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin 70-68=138

Source: [8]

Third round

Saturday, February 28, 1976
Sunday, February 29, 1976

PlacePlayerScoreTo par
T1 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus 66-70-68=204−12
Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead 67-69-68=204
T3 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Maltbie 70-70-65=205−11
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hayes 71-67-67=205
5 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson 67-70-70=207−9
T6 Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin 70-68-70=208−8
Flag of the United States.svg Don January 67-68-73=208
8 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Masserio 69-68-72=209−7
T9 Flag of the United States.svg Butch Baird 71-67-72=210−6
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Payne69-70-71=210

Source: [9]

Final round

Monday, March 1, 1976

PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)
1 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus 66-70-68-65=269−1960,000
2 Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead 67-69-68-68=272−1634,200
T3 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Maltbie 70-70-65-71=276−1217,700
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Masserio 69-68-72-67=276
5 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Hayes 71-67-67-72=277−1112,300
6 Flag of the United States.svg Lee Elder 69-72-70-67=278−1010,800
T7 Flag of the United States.svg Butch Baird 71-67-72-70=280−89,225
Flag of the United States.svg Don January 67-68-73-72=280
T9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Graham 70-71-71-69=281−77,500
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Gary Player 73-70-71-67=281
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson 67-70-70-74=281

Source: [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 Martz, Ron (February 26, 1976). "Golf pros create true tourney of champions". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). p. 9C.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nicklaus' seven-under 65 plenty adequate for title". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 2, 1976. p. 15.
  3. ↑ Biggers, Don (June 23, 1974). "Move over 'big four,' here comes another". Rome News-Tribune. (Georgia). p. 1C.
  4. ↑ "Jack quiets cynics, wins TPC golf". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. March 2, 1976. p. 1, sec. 4.
  5. ↑ "Showers postpone TPC". Chicago Tribune. UPI. February 29, 1976. p. 9, sec. 3.
  6. ↑ "Thunderstorm puts TPC back a day". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 29, 1976. p. 8C.
  7. ↑ "Marti, Nicklaus share top spot". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 27, 1976. p. 4C.
  8. ↑ "January captures Players golf lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 28, 1976. p. 3B.
  9. ↑ "A replay of 1974 Players". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 1, 1976. p. 2C.
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