Tucson Open Explained
The Tucson Open was a golf tournament in Arizona on the PGA Tour from 1945 to 2006, played annually in the winter in Tucson. It was last held at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort in late February, with a $3 million purse and a $540,000 winner's share.[1]
History
Since the event's inception in 1945, it had been played at a series of courses in Tucson. The first eighteen editions were at El Rio Golf & Country Club, which was purchased by the city in 1968 and is now El Rio Golf Course. In 1963, the event moved to Forty Niner Country Club in 1963 for two years, then began its lengthy relationship with its last location, known at the time as Tucson National Golf Club, which hosted through 1978. It moved to Randolph Park Golf Course in 1979, returned to Tucson National in 1980, then back to Randolph Park for the next six.
From 1984 to 1986, the Tucson Open was contested at match play and was held concurrently with a Senior PGA Tour match play event, the Seiko-Tucson Senior Match Play Championship The 1986 event was played using a Medal match play format.
In 1987 and 1988 the event was played at the TPC at Starr Pass but was not held in 1989. When the event resumed in 1990, it was played at two courses each year from that year's event until 1996. One used every year was the TPC at Starr Pass (renamed Starr Pass Golf Club before the 1993 event). The TPC at Starr Pass shared time with Randolph Park in 1990; from 1991–96 the Tucson National GC was the other course used.
In 1997, the event changed to the more traditional format of 72 holes played at only one course, and has been played since that year at the renamed Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa.
In later years, it was an alternate event, opposite the WGC Match Play championship, then held at La Costa in Carlsbad, California. Because the top 64 ranked players in the world are invited to the WGC event, it weakened the field considerably for Tucson. The match play tournament moved to Tucson in 2007 as a "merging" of sorts between the two tournaments, and stayed through 2014.
On the PGA Tour Champions, the Tucson Conquistadores Classic made its debut in 2015, and is held at the Omni Tucson National Resort in mid-March.
Tournament highlights
- 1945: Ray Mangrum shoots a final round 64 to win the inaugural version of the tournament.[2]
- 1947: Jimmy Demaret becomes the first Tucson champion to successfully defend a title. A final round 65 allows him to finish three shots ahead of Ben Hogan.[3]
- 1949: Lloyd Mangrum shoots a tournament record 263. He wins by five shots over Al Smith.[4]
- 1955: Tommy Bolt eagles the 72nd hole to successfully defend his Tucson Open title.[5]
- 1959: Gene Littler wins for the second consecutive week on the PGA Tour. He finishes one shot ahead of Joe Campbell and Art Wall Jr.[6]
- 1961: Controversial pro golfer Dave Hill wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He defeats Tommy Bolt and Bud Sullivan on the third hole of a sudden death playoff.[7]
- 1962: Phil Rodgers holes a wedge shot from 65-feet for eagle on the 72nd hole to edge Bud Sullivan by one shot.[8]
- 1965: Only after deciding to play the tournament five minutes before its deadline for entries, New Zealand born Bob Charles makes Tucson his second ever win in the United States. He beats Al Geiberger by four shots.[9]
- 1968: George Knudson wins for the second consecutive week on the PGA Tour. He finishes one shot ahead of Frank Beard and Frank Boynton.[10]
- 1970: Lee Trevino successfully defends his Tucson Open title. He birdies the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bob Murphy.[11]
- 1974: Johnny Miller becomes the first ever golfer in PGA Tour history to win three consecutive tournaments to start the season. He shoots a first round 62 on his way to a three shot triumph over Ben Crenshaw.[12]
- 1975: Tom Weiskopf misses the 36 hole cut with scores of 70 and 78. Afterwards tournament director Biff Baker made a telephone complaint to PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman accusing Weiskopf of backhanding putts and not playing in a professional manner.[13] Weiskopf denied the allegations by saying "All they have to do is ask my playing partners."[14]
- 1976: Johnny Miller wins at Tucson for the third consecutive year. He finishes three shots ahead of Howard Twitty.[15]
- 1977: Bruce Lietzke earns the first of his thirteen career PGA Tour wins by defeating Gene Littler on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff.[16]
- 1980: Poor weather causes the tournament to finish on a Tuesday. Jim Colbert is the winner by four shots over Dan Halldorson.[17]
- 1981: Johnny Miller wins Tucson for the fourth time. He shoots a final round 65 to finish two shots ahead of Lon Hinkle.[18]
- 1984: For the first of three consecutive years, Tucson is conducted as a match play event. Tom Watson wins by defeating defending champion Gil Morgan in the finals by the score of 2 and 1.[19]
- 1986: Defending champion Jim Thorpe wins the last match play edition of Tucson. He defeats Scott Simpson 67 to 71 in the finals.[20]
- 1990: Robert Gamez wins on the PGA Tour in his first ever event. He finishes four shots ahead of Mark Calcavecchia and Jay Haas.[21] During the tournament's second round, 1988 Tucson champion David Frost, becomes the first PGA Tour player in 33 years to shoot a 60.[22]
- 1991: Twenty-year-old amateur Phil Mickelson birdies the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Bob Tway and Tom Purtzer. Purtzer made double bogey on the tournament's final hole.[23] Hal Sutton hits a six-iron for his second shot on the 9th hole directly at the green. The ball slammed into the cup without touching the green and embedded itself in the lip of the hole. Since part of the ball remained above the level of the hole, it was ruled that Sutton had not holed out. He had to replace the ball and putt it in for a birdie.[24]
- 1992: Future two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen collects his first ever PGA Tour title. He edges Bill Britton by one shot.[25]
- 1995: Phil Mickelson wins his second Tucson title by one shot over Jim Gallagher Jr. and Scott Simpson after Gallagher three putts the 72nd hole.[26]
- 1997: Jeff Sluman earns his first PGA Tour title since the 1988 PGA Championship. He wins by one shot over Steve Jones.[27]
- 2000: After playing in 292 PGA Tour events, Jim Carter finally reaches the winner's circle. He finishes two shots ahead of Jean van de Velde, Chris DiMarco, and Tom Scherrer.[28]
- 2001: Like Robert Gamez did at the 1990 Tucson, Garrett Willis wins on the PGA Tour in his first ever event. He wins by one shot over Kevin Sutherland.[29]
- 2005: Future U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy notches his first ever PGA Tour win. He defeats Mark Calcavecchia and Kevin Na in a sudden death playoff.[30]
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of
victory | Runner(s)-up | Winner's
share ($) |
|---|
| Chrysler Classic of Tucson |
|---|
| | 266 | −22 | 1 stroke | | 540,000 |
| | 269 | −19 | Playoff |  Mark Calcavecchia
Kevin Na | 540,000 |
| | 266 | −22 | 1 stroke |  Aaron Baddeley | 540,000 |
| | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Chad Campbell | 540,000 |
| Touchstone Energy Tucson Open |
|---|
| | 268 | −20 | 2 strokes | David Peoples
Loren Roberts | 540,000 |
| | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Kevin Sutherland | 540,000 |
| | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Chris DiMarco
Tom Scherrer
 Jean van de Velde | 540,000 |
| | 276 | −12 | Playoff | Tommy Armour III | 495,000 |
| Tucson Chrysler Classic |
|---|
| | 269 | −19 | 4 strokes | Justin Leonard
David Toms | 360,000 |
| | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke | Steve Jones | 234,000 |
| Nortel Open |
|---|
| Phil Mickelson (3) | 273 | −14 | 2 strokes | Bob Tway | 225,000 |
| Northern Telecom Open |
|---|
| Phil Mickelson (2) | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke | Jim Gallagher Jr.
Scott Simpson | 225,000 |
| | 270 | −18 | 2 strokes | Jay Don Blake
Loren Roberts
 Vijay Singh
Steve Stricker | 198,000 |
| | 271 | −17 | 2 strokes | Jeff Maggert | 198,000 |
| | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Bill Britton | 198,000 |
| Phil Mickelson (a) | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke | Tom Purtzer
Bob Tway | 180,000 |
| Northern Telecom Tucson Open |
|---|
| | 270 | −18 | 4 strokes | Mark Calcavecchia
Jay Haas | 162,000 |
| 1989: No tournament |
| | 266 | −22 | 5 strokes | Mark Calcavecchia
Mark O'Meara | 108,000 |
| Seiko Tucson Open |
|---|
| | 268 | −20 | 4 strokes | Chip Beck
Mark Calcavecchia
Hal Sutton
Fuzzy Zoeller | 108,000 |
| Seiko-Tucson Match Play Championship |
|---|
| Jim Thorpe (2) | 67 | −5 | 4 strokes | Scott Simpson | 150,000 |
| | 4 and 3 | Jack Renner | 150,000 |
| Tom Watson (2) | 2 and 1 | Gil Morgan | 100,000 |
| Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open |
|---|
| | 271 | −9 | Playoff | Curtis Strange
Lanny Wadkins | 54,000 |
| | 266 | −14 | 3 strokes | Vance Heafner
John Mahaffey | 54,000 |
| Johnny Miller (4) | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes | Lon Hinkle | 54,000 |
| | 270 | −22 | 4 strokes |  Dan Halldorson | 54,000 |
| Bruce Lietzke (2) | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes | Buddy Gardner
Jim Thorpe
Tom Watson | 45,000 |
| | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes | Bobby Wadkins | 40,000 |
| | 275 | −13 | Playoff | Gene Littler | 40,000 |
| NBC Tucson Open |
|---|
| Johnny Miller (3) | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes | Howard Twitty | 40,000 |
| Dean Martin Tucson Open |
|---|
| Johnny Miller (2) | 263 | −25 | 9 strokes | John Mahaffey | 40,000 |
| | 272 | −16 | 3 strokes | Ben Crenshaw | 30,000 |
| | 277 | −11 | 5 strokes | George Archer
Gay Brewer
Labron Harris Jr.
Bobby Nichols | 30,000 |
| | 273 | −15 | Playoff | George Archer | 30,000 |
| Tucson Open Invitational |
|---|
| | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Dale Douglass | 22,000 |
| Lee Trevino (2) | 275 | −13 | Playoff | Bob Murphy | 20,000 |
| | 271 | −17 | 7 strokes | Miller Barber | 20,000 |
| | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Frank Beard
Frank Boynton | 20,000 |
| | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Chuck Courtney | 12,000 |
| | 278 | −10 | Playoff | Gene Littler | 9,000 |
| | 271 | −17 | 4 strokes | Al Geiberger | 6,800 |
| | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes | Rex Baxter | 4,000 |
| | 266 | −22 | 11 strokes | Gene Littler
Phil Rodgers | 3,500 |
| | 263 | −17 | 3 strokes | Jim Ferrier | 2,800 |
| Home of the Sun Open |
|---|
| | 269 | −11 | Playoff | Tommy Bolt
Bud Sullivan | 2,800 |
| Tucson Open Invitational |
|---|
| | 271 | −9 | 3 strokes | Bob Harris | 2,800 |
| | 266 | −14 | 1 stroke | | |
| | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes | | |
| 1957 | | 269 | −11 | Playoff | | |
| 1956 | | 264 | −16 | 3 strokes | | |
| Tucson Open |
|---|
| 1955 | Tommy Bolt (2) | 266 | −14 | 3 strokes | | |
| 1954: No tournament |
| 1953 | | 265 | −15 | 1 stroke | | |
| 1952 | | 274 | −6 | 2 strokes | | |
| 1951 | Lloyd Mangrum (2) | 269 | −11 | 2 strokes | | |
| 1950 | | 267 | −13 | 2 strokes | | |
| 1949 | | 263 | −17 | 5 strokes | | |
| 1948 | | 264 | −16 | 1 stroke | | |
| 1947 | Jimmy Demaret (2) | 264 | −16 | 3 strokes | | |
| 1946 | | 268 | −12 | 4 strokes | | |
| 1945 | | 268 | −12 | 1 stroke | | | |
Multiple winners
Nine men won this tournament more than once.
1974, 1975, 1976, 1981
1991(a), 1995, 1996
1985, 1986
1977, 1979
1969, 1970
1960, 1963
1953, 1955
1949, 1951
References
32.358°N -111.023°W
Notes and References
- News: Chrysler surprise . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington) . Associated Press . Korte . Tim . February 27, 2006 . C2.
- News: Mangrum Winner Of Tucson Golf . The Pittsburgh Press . Pennsylvania . January 22, 1945 . 17 . UP.
- News: Tucson Open Won By Jimmy Demaret . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon . February 3, 1947 . 5 . UP.
- News: Mangrum Breaks Tucson Record . The Pittsburgh Press . Pennsylvania . February 7, 1949 . 21 . UP.
- News: Tommy Bolt Wins Tucson Open Golf . Lodi News-Sentinel . California . February 14, 1955 . 8 . UP.
- News: Gene Littler Wins Tucson Open . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Pennsylvania . February 16, 1959 . 18 . AP.
- News: Tucson Won By Dave Hill . Middlesboro Daily News . Kentucky . February 20, 1961 . 14 . UPI.
- News: Phil Rodgers Wins Tucson . The Gettysburg Times . Pennsylvania . February 19, 1962 . 4 . AP . Murray . Sinclair.
- News: Charles Tops Field At Tucson . Ellensburg Daily Record . Washington . February 22, 1965 . 5 . AP . Bob . Eger.
- News: Knudson In Charge To Tucson Win . Daytona Beach Morning Journal . Florida . February 26, 1968 . 17 . AP.
- News: Murphy Second In Tucson Open . The News-Dispatch . Jeannette, Pennsylvania . February 16, 1970 . 10 . UPI.
- News: Miller Wins At Tucson With Ben Crenshaw Second . The Bonham Daily Favorite . Texas . January 21, 1974 . 6 . UPI.
- News: Tucson golf director unhappy with Weiskopf . The Gadsden Times . Alabama . January 19, 1975 . 40 . AP.
- News: Weiskopf Denies Not Trying Best . The Evening Independent . St. Petersburg, Florida . January 20, 1975 . 2-C . AP.
- News: Miller Wins Tucson Open For 3rd Time . Ludington Daily News . Michigan . January 12, 1976 . 6 . UPI.
- News: First tour win for Bruce Lietzke . Beaver County Times . Pennsylvania . January 17, 1977 . B-2 . UPI . Joe . Sargis.
- News: Colbert Wins At Tucson . The Times-News . Hendersonville, North Carolina . February 20, 1980 . 15 . AP.
- News: Johnny Miller Wins Tucson . Waycross Journal-Herald . Georgia . January 12, 1981 . P-7 . AP.
- News: In a 'dull match', Watson takestitle . The Register-Guard . Eugene, Oregon . January 9, 1984 . 2B . AP.
- News: Thorpe Captures Match-Play Event . The New York Times . November 3, 1986 . AP.
- News: Rookie Robert Gamez Tucson Open winner . The Vindicator . Youngstown, Ohio . January 15, 1990 . 14 . AP.
- News: Super 12-under puts Frost on par . New Sunday Times . Malaysia . January 14, 1990 . 18.
- News: Mickelson wins as amateur in Tucson Open . The Prescott Courier . Arizona . January 14, 1991 . 6A . AP . Bob . Green.
- Book: Zullo, Allan . Astonishing but True Golf Facts . Andrew McMeel Publishing . 2001 . 9780740714269 . registration .
- News: Janzen stays cool in Tucson . The Milwaukee Journal . Wisconsin . February 17, 1992 . C6 . AP.
- News: Mickelson captures Tucson Open by one . Manila Standard . Philippines . January 22, 1995 . 25.
- News: Despite bogey on 18th, Jeff Sluman captures Tucson Open . Kingman Daily Miner . Arizona . February 24, 1997 . 6 . AP.
- News: First-time winner takes Tucson Open . Herald-Journal . Spartanburg, South Carolina . February 28, 2000 . B2 . AP.
- News: Willis comes of age in Tucson . BBC Sport . January 16, 2001.
- News: Ogilvy wins US playoff . The Age . Melbourne, Australia . March 1, 2005 . Michael . Clayton.
