Tavistock Cup
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The Tavistock Cup is a team competition between the golf Touring Professionals of Isleworth Golf & Country Club and Lake Nona Golf & Country Club - located within 25 miles of one another in Orlando, Florida and owned by a private investment company, Tavistock Group. Hailed in the press as the "Toughest Ticket in Sports," the Tavistock Cup features some of the world's best players vying for team bragging rights to be crowned the World Golf and Country Club Champion.
The Tavistock Cup, an officially sanctioned PGA Tour event, is regarded by many as the most intimate golf tournament in the world. The invitation only gallery allows guests to walk the fairways with the game's best players as they compete.
Tavistock Group is a privately held investment company with diverse holdings in real estate, life sciences companies, financial services, oil and gas investments, manufacturing, and consumer goods and retail companies.
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[edit] History
The Tavistock Cup began in 2004 as a friendly cross-town rivalry between Isleworth and Lake Nona. Each year, the clubs' Touring Professionals, all who are members or residents at either club, compete for the title of "World Golf and Country Club Champion." The Tavistock Cup participants have won over 40 major championship, 570 career worldwide victories and more than $300 million in prize money.
Isleworth clinched the inaugural victory of the Tavistock Cup in 2004 at Lake Nona. Competition heated up in 2005, when Isleworth rallied to answer Lake Nona’s early dominance. Played at Isleworth, each team earned 8 ½ points out of a possible 17 at the end of regulation play. After three holes of sudden death, play was called due to darkness and the teams finished in a tie. Since a winner was not declared, the captains decided the competition should return to Isleworth in 2006. Team Lake Nona had high hopes of winning its first Tavistock Cup, but Team Isleworth proved too strong and secured another victory.
The event not only benefits players and spectators, it also benefits local and international charities. In 2006, the Tavistock Cup raised more than $500,000 for charity, with donations over the past three years topping $1.5 million. Many worthy causes have benefited from this event including M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, The Center for Drug-Free Living, The First Tee, Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association (OMYGA) and UCF Foundation.
[edit] Past Players
Isleworth
- Robert Allenby
- Stuart Appleby
- Arjun Atwal
- Darren Clarke
- John Cook
- Robert Damron
- Scott Hoch
- Charles Howell III
- Lee Janzen
- Mark O'Meara
- Craig Parry
- Tiger Woods
Lake Nona
- Ben Curtis
- Ernie Els
- Nick Faldo
- Sergio García
- Retief Goosen
- Trevor Immelman
- Maarten Lafeber
- Graeme McDowell
- Mark McNulty
- Ian Poulter
- Justin Rose
- Annika Sorenstam
- Sven Struver
[edit] Purse
During the Tavistock Cup, players vie for a $2.0 million purse. Each player on the winning team receives a $100,000 and each player on the losing team receives $50,000. Each year, the Payne Stewart Salver Award is presented to the low Medalist on Tuesday along with $200,000. The Runner-up Medalist receives $100,000. Players also compete in the Longest Drive Competition and each player on the team of the individual winner also receive $10,000. In addition, players contend for fabulous hole-in-one prizes including cars, boats, motorbikes and more.
[edit] Results
| Year | Location | Winning Team | Score | Payne Stewart Medalist | Longest Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Lake Nona | Isleworth | Isleworth def. Lake Nona, 14 1/2 to 9 1/2 | Stuart Appleby | n/a |
| 2005 | Isleworth | Tie* | Isleworth tied Lake Nona, 8 1/2 to 8 1/2 | Tiger Woods | Ernie Els |
| 2006 | Isleworth | Isleworth | Isleworth def. Lake Nona, 17 1/2 to 12 1/2 | Tiger Woods | Tiger Woods |
| 2007 | Lake Nona | Lake Nona | Lake Nona def. Isleworth, 22 to 8 | Tiger Woods | Ernie Els |
(*In 2005, both teams earned 8 1/2 of the possible 17 points after 18 holes. After three holes in a sudden death tie-breaker, play was called due to darkness. Each player on both teams took home $87,500 each.)
