Harry Vardon Trophy

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The Harry Vardon Trophy is awarded by the European Tour. Since 2009 it has been awarded to the winner of the Race to Dubai. Before then it was awarded to the winner of the "Order of Merit". From 1975 to 2008 the Order of Merit was based on prize money but before that date a points system was used. From 1937 until the European Tour became an independent organisation, the award was presented by the British PGA. The trophy is named for the Jersey golfing great Harry Vardon, who died in 1937.

Contents

The Race to Dubai is calculated in euro, although many of the events have prize funds which are fixed in other currencies, mainly pounds sterling or U.S. dollars. In these instances, the amounts are converted into euro at the exchange rate for the week that the tournament is played.

History

The award was created in 1937 as the Harry Vardon Memorial Trophy. In its first year the award was presented to the player with the best average in the major stroke play events. Seven events were used: Daily Mail Tournament, Silver King Tournament, Dunlop-Southport Tournament, Southend Tournament, Open Championship, Irish Open and News Chronicle Tournament. Qualifying rounds did not count and a minimum of 18 rounds had to be played. The Dunlop-Metropolitan Tournament with its restricted field was not included and so the last qualifying event was the delayed Southend Tournament. Charles Whitcombe became the first winner with an average of 71.62 for 24 rounds. He had played in 6 of the 7 events (all except the Irish Open) scoring 289, 289, 283, 294, 282 and 282 for a total of 1719. The Irish golfer Paddy Mahon was second with an average of 71.90. [1] [2] [3]

Six events were used in 1938 with a minimum of 16 rounds which had to include The Open Championship. The same events were used as in 1937 with the exception of the Southend Tournament. Henry Cotton won the award with an average of 72.87 having played in 4 of the 6 qualifying events. Reg Whitcombe was second with an average of 73.35 for 20 rounds. [4] [5]

A new system was introduced in 1939. A points system was used with the winner getting 1 point, 2nd place getting 2 points, down to 26 points for finishing outside the top 25. Five events were used with a minimum of 16 rounds which had to include the four rounds of the Open Championship. The Dunlop-Southport Tournament did not take place but otherwise the same tournaments were used as in 1938. Reg Whitcombe won with a score of 27 (7th, 6th, 3rd, 2nd and 9th). Sam King was second on 49 which included 26 points because he had not played in the Irish Open. King had a lower average (72.87) than Whitcombe (73). [6] [7]

In 1946, after World War II, the award was again given to the player with the best average in the major stroke play events. 20 rounds were required and four rounds of the Open were compulsory. Bobby Locke won with an average of 73.16 in 36 rounds. [8] Norman Von Nida won in 1947 with an average of 71.25 in 52 rounds [9] and Charlie Ward won in 1948 averaging 71.29 over 44 rounds. [10]

Before 1980, the Order of Merit had been based on a points system or stroke average, so it was not necessarily headed by the golfer who won the most money. In 1971 Peter Oosterhuis won the Order of Merit and won £9,269. Gary Player was the leading money winner with £11,281 but of that, £8,500 came from winning the 1971 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. [11]

Winners

YearWinnerPoints
Race to Dubai
2023 Ulster Banner.svg Rory McIlroy (5)5,296
YearDP World Tour RankingsPoints
2022 Ulster Banner.svg Rory McIlroy (4)4,754
YearRace to DubaiPoints
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Collin Morikawa 5,856
2020 Flag of England.svg Lee Westwood (3)3,128
2019 Flag of Spain.svg Jon Rahm 5,898
2018 Flag of Italy.svg Francesco Molinari 6,041,521
2017 Flag of England.svg Tommy Fleetwood 5,386,955
2016 Flag of Sweden.svg Henrik Stenson (2)5,289,506
2015 Ulster Banner.svg Rory McIlroy (3)4,727,253
2014 Ulster Banner.svg Rory McIlroy (2)7,149,503
2013 Flag of Sweden.svg Henrik Stenson 4,103,796
YearRace to DubaiPrize money ()
2012 Ulster Banner.svg Rory McIlroy 5,519,118
2011 Flag of England.svg Luke Donald 5,323,400
2010 Flag of Germany.svg Martin Kaymer 4,461,011
2009 Flag of England.svg Lee Westwood (2)4,237,762
YearOrder of MeritPrize money (€)
2008 Flag of Sweden.svg Robert Karlsson 2,732,748
2007 Flag of England.svg Justin Rose 2,944,945
2006 Flag of Ireland.svg Pádraig Harrington 2,489,337
2005 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (8)2,794,223
2004 Flag of South Africa.svg Ernie Els (2)4,061,905
2003 Flag of South Africa.svg Ernie Els 2,975,374
2002 Flag of South Africa.svg Retief Goosen (2)2,360,128
YearVolvo Order of MeritPrize money (€)
2001 Flag of South Africa.svg Retief Goosen 2,862,806
2000 Flag of England.svg Lee Westwood 3,125,147
1999 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (7)1,822,880
YearVolvo Order of MeritPrize money (£)
1998 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (6)993,077
1997 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (5)798,948
1996 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (4)875,146
1995 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (3)835,051
1994 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie (2)762,720
1993 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie 613,683
1992 Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo (2)708,522
1991 Flag of Spain.svg Seve Ballesteros (6)545,354
1990 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ian Woosnam (2)574,166
1989 Ulster Banner.svg Ronan Rafferty 400,311
1988 Flag of Spain.svg Seve Ballesteros (5)451,560
YearEpson Order of MeritPrize money (£)
1987 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ian Woosnam 253,717
1986 Flag of Spain.svg Seve Ballesteros (4)242,209
1985 Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Lyle (3)162,553
YearSperry Order of MeritPrize money (£)
1984 Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer (2)139,344
YearOfficial money listPrize money (£)
1983 Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo 119,416
1982 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Norman 66,406
1981 Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer 81,036
1980 Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Lyle (2)43,346
YearOrder of MeritPoints
1979 Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Lyle 39,808
1978 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg Seve Ballesteros (3)47,178
1977 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg Seve Ballesteros (2)28,699
1976 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Seve Ballesteros 21,495
1975 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Dale Hayes 17,488
1974 Flag of England.svg Peter Oosterhuis (4)2,965
1973 Flag of England.svg Peter Oosterhuis (3)3,440
1972 Flag of England.svg Peter Oosterhuis (2)1,751
1971 Flag of England.svg Peter Oosterhuis 1,293
1970 Flag of England.svg Neil Coles (2)779
1969 Flag of Scotland.svg Bernard Gallacher 910
1968 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Brian Huggett 919
1967 Flag of England.svg Malcolm Gregson
1966 Flag of England.svg Peter Alliss (2)893
1965 Flag of England.svg Bernard Hunt (3)969
1964 Flag of England.svg Peter Alliss 1,940
1963 Flag of England.svg Neil Coles 674
1962 Flag of Ireland.svg Christy O'Connor Snr (2)
1961 Flag of Ireland.svg Christy O'Connor Snr
1960 Flag of England.svg Bernard Hunt (2)
1959 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dai Rees (2)
1958 Flag of England.svg Bernard Hunt
1957 Flag of Scotland.svg Eric Brown
1956 Flag of England.svg Harry Weetman (2)
1955 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dai Rees
1954 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Locke (3)
1953 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck
1952 Flag of England.svg Harry Weetman
1951 Flag of Scotland.svg John Panton
1950 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Locke (2)
1949 Flag of England.svg Charlie Ward (2)
1948 Flag of England.svg Charlie Ward
1947 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Norman Von Nida
1946 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Locke
1940–1945: No award
1939 Flag of England.svg Reg Whitcombe
1938 Flag of England.svg Henry Cotton
1937 Flag of England.svg Charles Whitcombe

Multiple winners

RankPlayerWinsFirst winLast win
1 Flag of Scotland.svg Colin Montgomerie 8 1993 2005
2 Flag of Spain.svg Seve Ballesteros 6 1976 1991
3 Ulster Banner.svg Rory McIlroy 5 2012 2023
4 Flag of England.svg Peter Oosterhuis 41971 1974
T5 Flag of England.svg Lee Westwood 3 2009 2020
Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Lyle 3 1979 1985
Flag of England.svg Bernard Hunt 319581965
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Locke 319461954
T9 Flag of Sweden.svg Henrik Stenson 2 2013 2016
Flag of South Africa.svg Ernie Els 2 2003 2004
Flag of South Africa.svg Retief Goosen 2 2001 2002
Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo 2 1983 1992
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ian Woosnam 2 1987 1990
Flag of Germany.svg Bernhard Langer 2 1981 1984
Flag of England.svg Neil Coles 219631970
Flag of England.svg Peter Alliss 219641966
Flag of Ireland.svg Christy O'Connor Snr 219611962
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dai Rees 219551959
Flag of England.svg Harry Weetman 219521956
Flag of England.svg Charlie Ward 219481949

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References

  1. "Harry Vardon Memorial Trophy". The Times. 10 September 1937. p. 5.
  2. "Harry Vardon Memorial Trophy". The Times. 13 September 1937. p. 6.
  3. "Harry Vardon Memorial Trophy – C A Whitcombe's fine average". The Times. 1 October 1937. p. 5.
  4. "Golf – The Harry Vardon Trophy". The Times. 13 January 1938. p. 6.
  5. "The "Vardon" Trophy". The Times. 20 August 1938. p. 3.
  6. "The Harry Vardon Trophy". The Times. 19 August 1939. p. 5.
  7. "The Harry Vardon Trophy – final placings". The Times. 2 September 1939. p. 3.
  8. "Golf – Locke wins Harry Vardon Trophy". The Times. 20 September 1946. p. 8.
  9. "Harry Vardon Trophy – Von Nida's success". The Times. 9 September 1947. p. 2.
  10. "Golf – Harry Vardon Trophy". The Times. 15 September 1948. p. 2.
  11. "Golf - Oosterhuis heads merit list". The Times. 6 November 1971. p. 15.