1976 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship

The 1976 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship was the 13th World Match Play Championship. It was played from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 October on the West Course at Wentworth. Eight players competed in a straight knock-out competition, with each match contested over 36 holes. There was a large increase in the prize money with the champion receiving £25,000 compared to £10,000 the previous year. In the final, David Graham beat defending champion Hale Irwin after 38 holes.

1976 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship
Tournament information
Dates7–9 October 1976
LocationVirginia Water, Surrey, England
Course(s)West Course, Wentworth
FormatMatch play – 36 holes
Statistics
Par73
Length6,969 yards (6,372 m)
Field8 players
Prize fund£75,000
Winner's share£25,000
Champion
Australia David Graham
def. Hale Irwin after 38 holes
← 1975
1977 →

For the first time there was a play-off between the losing semi-finalists for third place. It was played over 36 holes and was won by Gary Player.

This was the last World Match Play Championship sponsored under the Piccadilly name.[1]

Course

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Source:[2]

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 471 155 452 501 191 344 399 398 460 3,371 186 376 483 441 179 480 380 571 502 3,598 6,969
Par 4 3 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 35 3 4 5 4 3 5 4 5 5 38 73

Scores

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Source:[2][3][4]

Quarter-finals
7 October
Semi-finals
8 October
Final
9 October
      
  Hale Irwin 2 & 1
  Seve Ballesteros
  Hale Irwin 2 up
  Gary Player
  Gary Player 5 & 4
  Arnold Palmer
  Hale Irwin
  David Graham 38 h
  David Graham 3 & 2
  Hubert Green
  David Graham 1 up Third place
  Raymond Floyd
  Raymond Floyd 2 up   Gary Player 7 & 5
  Brian Barnes   Raymond Floyd

Prize money

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The winner received £25,000, the runner-up £15,000, third place £8,500, fourth place £6,500 and the first round losers £5,000, making a total prize fund of £75,000.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Piccadilly loss a blow to the game". The Times, Saturday, 16 October 1976; pg. 15; Issue 59836.
  2. ^ a b "Floyd's finish is the end of road for Barnes". The Times, Friday, 8 October 1976; pg. 12; Issue 59829.
  3. ^ "Vintage day closes with an hour of magic". The Times, Saturday, 9 October 1976; pg. 15; Issue 59830.
  4. ^ "No event generated a greater afterglow than matchplay final". The Times, Monday, 11 October 1976; pg. 9; Issue 59831.
  5. ^ "Irwin again in final". The Glasgow Herald, Saturday, 9 October 1976; pg. 14.

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