The John Player Classic was the richest golf tournament in Britain between 1970 and 1973.

The John Player Classic was first played in 1970 at Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell), when Ireland's Christy O'Connor Snr triumphed by one stroke over England's Tony Jacklin to collect the £25,000 first prize.

The second round featured some of the worst conditions ever seen in a professional golf tournament, with a gale-force wind gusting up to 65 mph, and rain falling horizontally.

[2] Marquees and hoardings were destroyed, with several exhibitors tents being uprooted and flung onto the course.

[2] It was cancelled the following year because of a clash of dates with the PGA Tour's Kaiser International Open Invitational.