1976 - Men Awards
The winners in the category "1976 - Men Awards" are shown in the table below, which also includes relevant information on venues, scores and prize money.
Awards
Eurpn Tr
Ballesteros (Esp) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the European Tour, with 70.83. Antonio Garrido (Esp) was second with 70.91; Eamonn Darcy (Ire) was third with 71.16. Graham Marsh (Aus) averaged 70.55, but played in only five tournaments (20 rounds).
Awards
PGA of America
January (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.
Awards
Japan Tr
Isao Aoki (Jpn) won the Japan Golf Tour 1976 Money List, with earnings of Yn40,985,801 from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Awards
PGA Tour
Nicklaus (USA) won his eighth (and second straight) PGA Tour leading money winner title, with 1976 season earnings of $266,439 on the Tour. Ben Crenshaw (USA) was second with $257,759; Hale Irwin (USA) was third with $252,718.
Awards
Aus/NZ Tr
Lye (USA) won the Australia/NZ Tour 1976 Order of Merit.
Awards
Eurpn Tr
Ballesteros (Esp) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1976 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Ballesteros accumulated 21,494.82 pts; Eamonn Darcy (Ire) was second with 16,740.87 pts; Sam Torrance (Scot) was third with 16,627.16 pts. Ballesteros also topped the Tour's 1976 Prize Money List with £39,503; Darcy was second with £25,026; Brian Barnes (Scot) was third with £23,350.
1976/77 South Africa Tour Order of Merit. Won by Player (RSA).
Awards
PGA of America
Nicklaus (USA) won his fifth (and second straight) PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average).
Awards
Eurpn Tr
Mark James (Eng) won the European Tour 1976 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. James finished 15th on the Tour's (points-based) Order of Merit; he won £10,309 in prize money during the season.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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