1978 - Men Europe
The winners in the category "1978 - Men Europe" are shown in the table below, which also includes relevant information on venues, scores and prize money.
Played as the Belgian Open (June 8-11; played for the first time since 1958). Second-placed Chris Tickner (Aus) finished 1 shot behind first-time European Tour winner Ratcliffe (Aus). [Royal GC of Belgium (Ravenstein), Tervuren, nr Brussels].
Europe
Benson & Hedges
Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Aug 9-12). Trevino (USA) beat Neil Coles (Eng) with a par at the fourth playoff hole. Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].
Europe
Colgate
Played as the Colgate PGA Championship (May 26-29). Second-placed Ken Brown (Scot) finished 7 shots behind Faldo (Eng), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Oct 4-7). Second-placed Dale Hayes (RSA), Graham Marsh (Aus) and Brian Waites (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Horton (Eng), who recorded the last of his four European Tour wins. [Old course, St Pierre Hotel & CC, Chepstow, S Wales].
Europe
Sun Alliance
Played as the Sun Alliance European Match Play Championship (Jun 28-Jul 1). James (Eng) beat Neil Coles (Eng) 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final to record his first European Tour win. [East course, Dalmahoy Hotel & CC, nr Edinburgh].
Europe
x
Played as the Dutch Open (July 21-23). Second-placed Nick Price (Zim) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Byman (USA). Event reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Noordwijkse GC, Noordwijk, Neth.].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Second-placed Manuel Pinero (Esp) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Ballesteros (Esp). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
x
The inaugural European Open Championship (Oct 19-22). Wadkins (USA, brother of Lanny Wadkins) beat Bernard Gallacher (Scot) and Gil Morgan (USA) at the first playoff hole, to record his first and only European Tour win. [Composite course (predominantly based on the Old course), Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Europe
x
Played as the French Open. Second-placed Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished 11 shots behind Hayes (RSA). [Red course, La Baule GC, Pays-de-la-Loire].
Europe
Braun
Played as the Braun German Open. Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Ballesteros (Esp). [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne, Germany].
Europe
x
Played as the Greater Manchester Open (June 15-18). Barnes (Scot) beat Bob Charles (NZ), Nick Job (Eng) and Denis Durnian (Eng) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Wilmslow GC, Mobberley, Knutsford, Cheshire].
Europe
x
Played as the Hassan II Trophy (unofficial limited-field event). Rod Funseth (USA) and John Schroeder (USA) finished in second place behind Townsend (Eng). [Red course, Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as Carroll's Irish Open. Second-placed Seve Ballesteros (Esp) and John O'Leary (Ire) finished 1 shot behind Brown (Scot). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
Europe
x
Played as the Italian Open. Second-placed Vin Baker (RSA) and Tommy Horton (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Hayes (RSA). [Pevero GC, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia].
Europe
BA / Avis
Played as the inaugural BA/Avis Jersey Open (June 1-4). Second-placed Eamonn Darcy (Ire) finished 3 shots behind Huggett (Wales), who recorded the second of his two European Tour wins, which came after 14 European circuit wins. [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].
Europe
x
Played as the Madrid Open. Second-placed Jose Maria Canizares (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Clark (Eng). Finishing 1 shot further back in third place was Seve Ballesteros (Esp). [Real (Royal) Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Madrid].
Europe
Martini
Played as the Martini International (May 18-21). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Ballesteros (Esp), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Old course, Royal Automobile Club GC, Epsom, Surrey].
Europe
x
Played as the Portuguese Open (Apr 12-15; European Tr season-opener). Second-placed Brian Barnes (Scot) and Simon Hobday (RSA) finished 1 shot behind 23-year-old Howard Clark (Eng), who recorded the first of his 11 European Tour wins. [Penina Resort, Portimao, Algarve, Portugal].
Europe
Scandinavian Enterprise
Played as the Scandinavian Enterprise Open (Aug 3-6). Second-placed Dale Hayes (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Ballesteros (Esp). [Vasatorps GK, Helsingborg, Sweden].
Europe
x
Played as the Spanish Open. Second-placed Howard Clark (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Barnes (Scot). [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat, nr Barcelona Airport. Club now located in Terrassa, nr Barcelona].
Europe
x
Played as the European Tournament Players Championship (Sept 14-17). Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Waites (Eng), who recorded the first of his two European Tour wins. [Bernard Hunt course, Foxhills Resort, Ottershaw, Surrey; at the time known as the Chertsey course].
Europe
Lancome
Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by Lee Trevino (USA). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].
Europe
Colgate
Played as the Colgate World Match Play Championship (Oct 12-15; field of 16 players). Aoki (Jpn) beat Simon Owen (NZ) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
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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