The Smurfit Kappa European Open is the new name of the European Open Championship , which was first played in 1978. As the sponsors changed over the years so was its name. Initially it was not played in any particular course. From 1995, it is played at the Kildare Hotel and Golf club in Straffan, Ireland. It has been part of the European Tour since 1978 itself. With a prize purse of £ 2.4 million, it ranks amongst the top tournaments in the European Tour in terms of prize money, excluding the majors and world golf championships. Here is a list of names by which the tournament was known.
European Open Championship (1978-80)
Dixcel Tissues European Open (1981)
European Open Championship (1982)
Panasonic European Open (1983-90)
GA European Open (1991-93)
European Open (1994)
Smurfit European Open (1995-2005)
Smurfit Kappa European Open (2006- )
Welsh Stephen Dodd got the better of Jose Manuel Lara of Spain to win the 2006 Smurfit Kappa European Open by two strokes. He also received the winner's cheque of € 578,792.
Past Winners
Retief Goosen and Bernhard Langer are some of the big names who have won the Smurfit Kappa European Open . Langer, Gordon Brand Jr and Peter-Ulrik Johansson have won here twice each. Here is a list of players who have won here since it became part of the European Tour .
Stephen Dodd 2006
Kenneth Ferrie 2005
Retief Goosen 2004
Philip Rice 2003
Michael Campbell 2002
Darren Clarke 2001
Lee Westwood 2000; 1999
Mathias Gronberg 1998
Per-Ulrik Johansson 1997-96
Bernhard Langer 1995; 1985
David Gilford 1994
Gordon Brand Jr 1993; 1984
Nick Faldo 1992
Mike Harwood 1991
Peter Senior 1990
Andrew Murray 1989
Ian Woosnam 1988
Paul Way 1987
Greg Norman 1986
Graham Marsh 1985; 1979
Isao Aoki 1983
Manuel Pinero 1982
Graham Marsh 1981
Tom Kite 1980
Sandy Lyle 1979
Bobby Wadkins 1978
The Smurfit Kappa European Open is one of the richest tournaments on the tour. As we continue on this tour we will learn about the other tournaments in the European Tour
