First played
1971 - became part of The European Tour International
Schedule in 1972
.
Most wins
Two:
Graham Marsh, 1976, 80
Bernhard Langer, 1991, 97
José Maria Olazábal, 1990, 2000
.
Consecutive wins: None
.
Youngest winner
Peter Baker, 20 and 305 days, 1988
.
Oldest winner
Noel Ratcliffe, 42 and 211 days, 1987
.
Lowest 18 hole score
62 (-10):
Doug Sanders, 1975
Ian Woosnam, 1985
Bradley Hughes, 1989
.
Lowest first 18 hole score
62 (-10), Bradley Hughes, 1989
.
Lowest first 36 hole score
129 (-15):
Vicente Fernandez, 1975
Graham Marsh, 1980
.
Lowest first 54 hole score
194 (-22), Vicente Fernandez, 1975
.
Lowest 72 hole score
266 (-22), Vicente Fernandez, 1975
.
Lowest under par winning score
266 (-22), Vicente Fernandez, 1975
.
Lowest final round by a winner
64 (-8):
Vince Baker, 1973
Philippe Toussaint, 1974
Sandy Lyle, 1985
Gordon Brand Jnr, 1989
.
Wire-to-wire-winners
Maurice Bembridge, 1979
Graham Marsh, 1980;
Sam Torrance, 1984
Henrik Stenson, 2001
.
Largest 18 hole lead
4 shots - Sam Torrance, 1984
.
Largest 36 hole lead
5 shots - Peter O'Malley, 1995
.
Largest 54 hole lead
4 shots - Sam Torrance, 1984
.
Largest winning margin
3 shots:
Antonio Garrido, 1977
Seve Ballesteros, 1994
Darren Clarke, 1998
Colin Montgomerie, 1999
José Maria Olazábal, 2000
Henrik Stenson, 2001
.
Biggest final round comeback by a winner
7 shots - Gordon Brand Jnr, 1989
.
Play-offs
Tony Jacklin beat Peter Butler, 1971
Philippe Toussaint beat Bob Shearer, 1974
Lee Trevino beat Neil Coles and Noel Ratcliffe, 1978
Mark James beat Hugh Baiocchi and Lee Trevino, 1986
Peter Baker beat Nick Faldo, 1988
Peter Senior beat Tony Johnstone, 1992
.
Holes-in-one
Donald Armour, 1979
John Morgan, 1986
Andrew Oldcorn, 1987
Steen Tinning, 1989
Andrew Sherborne, 1990
Steven Bowman, 1990
Jay Townsend, 1991
.
Low cut: 142 (-2), 1999
.
High cut: 156 (+12), 1991
INTERESTING FACTS
Angel Cabrera, in the 33rd and final Benson and Hedges International Open, will attempt to create history by becoming the first player to successfully defend the crown. Since 1971 when the event was first played no fewer than 29 players have triumphed from 12 different countries. The roll of honour is like a 'who's who of golf'. Between them the winners have collected 22 Major Championships and 308 European Tour International Schedule victories. Not only is the Benson and Hedges International Open in its final year on The European Tour, the winning 2002 European Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance competes in his 31st Benson and Hedges International Open. A winner in 1984 at Fulford, he has recorded a further four top ten finishes. Peter Baker stole the headlines at the 1988 event when he defeated Nick Faldo in a play-off. The 20 year old eagled the par five 18th at Fulford to force extra holes, then at the 18th again, once more produced an eagle to claim his first European Tour title. It is the only time in European Tour history that a player has eagled the final hole to get into a play-off and then win the tournament in the subsequent first hole of a play-off with a second eagle.
