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
Dates	7–9 October 1976
Location	Virginia Water, Surrey, England
Course(s)	West Course, Wentworth
Format	Match play – 36 holes
Statistics
Par	73
Length	6,969 yards (6,372 m)
Field	8 players
Prize fund	£75,000
Winner's share	£25,000
Champion
David Graham
def. Hale Irwin after 38 holes

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

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

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

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

1. "Piccadilly loss a blow to the game". The Times, Saturday, 16 October 1976; pg. 15; Issue 59836.
2. "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.