The Johnnie Walker Classic has a rich history of champions, dating back to 1992 when the event was first played as a European Tour event. Here is a look at the winners and their achievements:
1992 - Ian Palmer
European Tour Wins - 2
Total World Wide Wins - 4
European Order of Merits -
Majors Won -
1993 - Nick Faldo
European Tour Wins - 30
Total World Wide Wins - 39
European Order of Merits - 2
Majors Won - 6
1994 - Greg Norman
European Tour Wins - 14
Total World Wide Wins - 84
European Order of Merits - 1
Majors Won - 2
1995 - Fred Couples
European Tour Wins - 3
Total World Wide Wins - 27
European Order of Merits -
Majors Won - 1
1996 - Ian Woosnam
European Tour Wins - 29
Total World Wide Wins - 44
European Order of Merits - 2
Majors Won - 1
1997, 03 - Ernie Els
European Tour Wins - 22
Total World Wide Wins - 57
European Order of Merits - 2
Majors Won - 3
1998, 01 - Tiger Woods
European Tour Wins - 25
Total World Wide Wins - 64
European Order of Merits -
Majors Won - 10
2000 - Michael Campbell
European Tour Wins - 8
Total World Wide Wins - 15
European Order of Merits -
Majors Won - 1
2002 - Retief Goosen
European Tour Wins - 13
Total World Wide Wins - 29
European Order of Merits - 2
Majors Won - 2
2004 - M A Jiménez
European Tour Wins - 13
Total World Wide Wins - 16
European Order of Merits -
Majors Won -
2005 - Adam Scott
European Tour Wins - 5
Total World Wide Wins - 10
European Order of Merits -
Majors Won -
TOTAL
European Tour Wins - 164
Total World Wide Wins - 389
European Order of Merits - 9
Majors Won - 26
Ernie Els of South Africa created European Tour history in the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic at Lake Karrinyup, Perth, Australia, when winning with rounds of 64-65-64-66 259 (-29). Here are the records he broke - lowest 72 hole score to par, beating the 27 under par set by Jerry Anderson at the 1984 Omega European Masters and the lowest first 54 hole to par of 193 (-23), topping the old mark of 22 under by Vicente Fernandez at the 1975 Benson and Hedges Festival.
Another South African, Retief Goosen went into the records books after his 2002 victory, also at Lake Karrinyup. He led after round two and took a 13 shot advantage going into the final day, eventually winning by eight from Sweden’s Pierre Fulke. His 13 stroke lead broke the old record for a third round leading margin, which stood at 11, set by Ken Brown at the 1984 Glasgow Open.
Defending champion, Adam Scott of Australia will try to create Johnnie Walker Classic history by becoming the first player to successfully defend the title.
Scott’s fellow Australian, Robert Allenby will be bidding for his fourth consecutive victory on Australian soil, following the 2005 Australian Open, Australian PGA Championship and MasterCard Masters. He has 11 career PGA Tour of Australasian victories to his credit.
The Johnnie Walker Classic was the first event in the history of The European Tour to be tri-sanctioned with the Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia in 1998, staged at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket. The event was won by Tiger Woods, defeating Ernie Els in a play-off, after he came from eight shots back going into the final round, courtesy of a final round 65 (-7).
Reigning US Open Champion, Michael Campbell is a two-time winner over The Vines Resort and Country Club, claiming the 2000 and 2001 Heineken Classic. Other players in the Johnnie Walker Classic field to win the Heineken Classic over The Vines course include: Ian Woosnam (1996) and Jarrod Moseley (1999).
