Trophée Lancôme

The Trophée Lancôme was a professional golf tournament which was staged in France from 1970 to 2003.

Gaëtan Mourgue D'Algue, a French golf enthusiast from Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, hoped to popularize the then little-known sport of Golf in France during the early 1960s. With Dominique Motte, he suggested the creation of a new championship trophy to Pierre Menet, the chairman of the Lancôme Company. Their goal was originally to bring together eight of the best players in the world. They started by hosting the Canada Cup at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche in 1963, establishing the village's prominence in the international golf tournemant circuit.

In 1970, the tournament was expanded to 54 holes, and recast as the "Trophée Lancôme", named after Mr. Menet's company. It began as an unofficial event, in that it was not part of a tour schedule, but it was backed by the Fédération Française de Golf and by preeminent sports agent Mark McCormack who arranged for some of the world's top players to participate. The 1970 and 1971 the tournament was played over 3 rounds (54 holes), but starting in 1972 it was played over the standard length for professional tournaments of 4 rounds (72 holes).

From 1976 onwards it was an official money event on the European Tour. Most of the winners in the tournament's first decade were American but from the early 1980s it was dominated by European Tour players. In 1986 Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros were declared joint winners as they were level after four playoff holes when darkness fell.

The tournament ceased operation after 2003. On the other hand, in the first few years of the 21st century, the Fédération Française de Golf made a concerted attempt to boost the profile of the Open de France, with prize money increasing five-fold between 1999 and 2006.

Winners

*2003 Retief Goosen - South Africa
*2002 Alex Cejka - Germany
*2001 Sergio García - Spain
*2000 Retief Goosen - South Africa
*1999 Pierre Fulke - Sweden
*1998 Miguel Ángel Jiménez - Spain
*1997 Mark O'Meara - United States
*1996 Jesper Parnevik - Sweden
*1995 Colin Montgomerie - Scotland
*1994 Vijay Singh - Fiji
*1993 Ian Woosnam - Wales
*1992 Mark Roe - England
*1991 Frank Nobilo - New Zealand
*1990 José María Olazábal - Spain
*1989 Eduardo Romero - Argentina
*1988 Seve Ballesteros - Spain
*1987 Ian Woosnam - Wales
*1986 Seve Ballesteros - Spain and Bernhard Langer - West Germany (tied)
*1985 Nick Price - Zimbabwe
*1984 Sandy Lyle - Scotland
*1983 Seve Ballesteros - Spain
*1982 David Graham - Australia
*1981 David Graham - Australia
*1980 Lee Trevino - United States
*1979 Johnny Miller - United States
*1978 Lee Trevino - United States
*1977 Graham Marsh - Australia
*1976 Seve Ballesteros - Spain
*1975 Gary Player - South Africa
*1974 Billy Casper - United States
*1973 Johnny Miller - United States
*1972 Tommy Aaron - United States
*1971 Arnold Palmer - United States
*1970 Tony Jacklin - England

Multiple winners

*4 wins: Seve Ballesteros (including one shared)
*2 wins: Retief Goosen, David Graham, Lee Trevino, Ian Woosnam

External links

* [http://www.trophee-lancome.com/index.php Official site] - in French
* [http://www.saint-nom-la-breteche.org/Golf/Jeuf_gol.html Official golf site of St. Nom la Breteche]