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]
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.
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
tucson, open, golf, tournament, arizona, tour, from, 1945, 2006, played, annually, winter, tucson, last, held, omni, tucson, national, golf, resort, late, february, with, million, purse, winner, share, chrysler, classic, tucsontournament, informationlocationtu. 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 Chrysler Classic of TucsonTournament informationLocationTucson ArizonaEstablished1945Course s Omni Tucson National Golf Resort Catalina Course 1 Par72Length7 193 yards 6 577 m Tour s PGA TourFormatStroke playPrize fundUS 3 000 000Month playedFebruaryFinal year2006Tournament record scoreAggregate263 Lloyd Mangrum 1949 263 Phil Rodgers 1962 263 Johnny Miller 1975 To par 25 Johnny Miller 1975 Final championKirk TriplettLocation MapOmni Tucson National Golf ResortLocation in the United StatesShow map of the United StatesOmni Tucson National Golf ResortLocation in ArizonaShow map of Arizona Contents 1 History 2 Tournament highlights 3 Winners 4 Multiple winners 5 ReferencesHistory editSince 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 amp 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 amp 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 edit1945 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 editYear Winner Score To par Margin ofvictory Runner s up Winner sshare Chrysler Classic of Tucson2006 nbsp Kirk Triplett 266 22 1 stroke nbsp Jerry Kelly 540 0002005 nbsp Geoff Ogilvy 269 19 Playoff nbsp Mark Calcavecchia nbsp Kevin Na 540 0002004 nbsp Heath Slocum 266 22 1 stroke nbsp Aaron Baddeley 540 0002003 nbsp Frank Lickliter 269 19 2 strokes nbsp Chad Campbell 540 000Touchstone Energy Tucson Open2002 nbsp Ian Leggatt 268 20 2 strokes nbsp David Peoples nbsp Loren Roberts 540 0002001 nbsp Garrett Willis 273 15 1 stroke nbsp Kevin Sutherland 540 0002000 nbsp Jim Carter 269 19 2 strokes nbsp Chris DiMarco nbsp Tom Scherrer nbsp Jean van de Velde 540 0001999 nbsp Gabriel Hjertstedt 276 12 Playoff nbsp Tommy Armour III 495 000Tucson Chrysler Classic1998 nbsp David Duval 269 19 4 strokes nbsp Justin Leonard nbsp David Toms 360 0001997 nbsp Jeff Sluman 275 13 1 stroke nbsp Steve Jones 234 000Nortel Open1996 nbsp Phil Mickelson 3 273 14 2 strokes nbsp Bob Tway 225 000Northern Telecom Open1995 nbsp Phil Mickelson 2 269 19 1 stroke nbsp Jim Gallagher Jr nbsp Scott Simpson 225 0001994 nbsp Andrew Magee 270 18 2 strokes nbsp Jay Don Blake nbsp Loren Roberts nbsp Vijay Singh nbsp Steve Stricker 198 0001993 nbsp Larry Mize 271 17 2 strokes nbsp Jeff Maggert 198 0001992 nbsp Lee Janzen 270 18 1 stroke nbsp Bill Britton 198 0001991 nbsp Phil Mickelson a 272 16 1 stroke nbsp Tom Purtzer nbsp Bob Tway 180 000Northern Telecom Tucson Open1990 nbsp Robert Gamez 270 18 4 strokes nbsp Mark Calcavecchia nbsp Jay Haas 162 0001989 No tournament1988 nbsp David Frost 266 22 5 strokes nbsp Mark Calcavecchia nbsp Mark O Meara 108 000Seiko Tucson Open1987 nbsp Mike Reid 268 20 4 strokes nbsp Chip Beck nbsp Mark Calcavecchia nbsp Hal Sutton nbsp Fuzzy Zoeller 108 000Seiko Tucson Match Play Championship1986 nbsp Jim Thorpe 2 67 5 4 strokes nbsp Scott Simpson 150 0001985 nbsp Jim Thorpe 4 and 3 nbsp Jack Renner 150 0001984 nbsp Tom Watson 2 2 and 1 nbsp Gil Morgan 100 000Joe Garagiola Tucson Open1983 nbsp Gil Morgan 271 9 Playoff nbsp Curtis Strange nbsp Lanny Wadkins 54 0001982 nbsp Craig Stadler 266 14 3 strokes nbsp Vance Heafner nbsp John Mahaffey 54 0001981 nbsp Johnny Miller 4 265 15 2 strokes nbsp Lon Hinkle 54 0001980 nbsp Jim Colbert 270 22 4 strokes nbsp Dan Halldorson 54 0001979 nbsp Bruce Lietzke 2 265 15 2 strokes nbsp Buddy Gardner nbsp Jim Thorpe nbsp Tom Watson 45 0001978 nbsp Tom Watson 274 14 3 strokes nbsp Bobby Wadkins 40 0001977 nbsp Bruce Lietzke 275 13 Playoff nbsp Gene Littler 40 000NBC Tucson Open1976 nbsp Johnny Miller 3 274 14 3 strokes nbsp Howard Twitty 40 000Dean Martin Tucson Open1975 nbsp Johnny Miller 2 263 25 9 strokes nbsp John Mahaffey 40 0001974 nbsp Johnny Miller 272 16 3 strokes nbsp Ben Crenshaw 30 0001973 nbsp Bruce Crampton 277 11 5 strokes nbsp George Archer nbsp Gay Brewer nbsp Labron Harris Jr nbsp Bobby Nichols 30 0001972 nbsp Miller Barber 273 15 Playoff nbsp George Archer 30 000Tucson Open Invitational1971 nbsp J C Snead 273 15 1 stroke nbsp Dale Douglass 22 0001970 nbsp Lee Trevino 2 275 13 Playoff nbsp Bob Murphy 20 0001969 nbsp Lee Trevino 271 17 7 strokes nbsp Miller Barber 20 0001968 nbsp George Knudson 273 15 1 stroke nbsp Frank Beard nbsp Frank Boynton 20 0001967 nbsp Arnold Palmer 273 15 1 stroke nbsp Chuck Courtney 12 0001966 nbsp Joe Campbell 278 10 Playoff nbsp Gene Littler 9 0001965 nbsp Bob Charles 271 17 4 strokes nbsp Al Geiberger 6 8001964 nbsp Jacky Cupit 274 14 2 strokes nbsp Rex Baxter 4 0001963 nbsp Don January 266 22 11 strokes nbsp Gene Littler nbsp Phil Rodgers 3 5001962 nbsp Phil Rodgers 263 17 3 strokes nbsp Jim Ferrier 2 800Home of the Sun Open1961 nbsp Dave Hill 269 11 Playoff nbsp Tommy Bolt nbsp Bud Sullivan 2 800Tucson Open Invitational1960 nbsp Don January 271 9 3 strokes nbsp Bob Harris 2 8001959 nbsp Gene Littler 266 14 1 stroke nbsp Joe Campbell nbsp Art Wall Jr 1958 nbsp Lionel Hebert 265 15 2 strokes nbsp Don January1957 nbsp Dow Finsterwald 269 11 Playoff nbsp Don Whitt1956 nbsp Ted Kroll 264 16 3 strokes nbsp Dow FinsterwaldTucson Open1955 nbsp Tommy Bolt 2 266 14 3 strokes nbsp Bud Holscher nbsp Art Wall Jr 1954 No tournament1953 nbsp Tommy Bolt 265 15 1 stroke nbsp Chandler Harper1952 nbsp Henry Williams Jr 274 6 2 strokes nbsp Cary Middlecoff1951 nbsp Lloyd Mangrum 2 269 11 2 strokes nbsp Jack Burke Jr nbsp Jim Turnesa nbsp Lew Worsham1950 nbsp Chandler Harper 267 13 2 strokes nbsp Sam Snead1949 nbsp Lloyd Mangrum 263 17 5 strokes nbsp Al Smith1948 nbsp Skip Alexander 264 16 1 stroke nbsp Johnny Palmer1947 nbsp Jimmy Demaret 2 264 16 3 strokes nbsp Ben Hogan1946 nbsp Jimmy Demaret 268 12 4 strokes nbsp Herman Barron1945 nbsp Ray Mangrum 268 12 1 stroke nbsp Byron NelsonMultiple winners editNine men won this tournament more than once 4 wins Johnny Miller 1974 1975 1976 1981 3 wins Phil Mickelson 1991 a 1995 1996 2 wins Jim Thorpe 1985 1986 Bruce Lietzke 1977 1979 Lee Trevino 1969 1970 Don January 1960 1963 Tommy Bolt 1953 1955 Lloyd Mangrum 1949 1951 Jimmy Demaret 1946 1947References edit a b Korte Tim February 27 2006 Chrysler surprise Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press p C2 Mangrum Winner Of Tucson Golf The Pittsburgh Press Pennsylvania UP January 22 1945 p 17 Tucson Open Won By Jimmy Demaret Eugene Register Guard Oregon UP February 3 1947 p 5 Mangrum Breaks Tucson Record The Pittsburgh Press Pennsylvania UP February 7 1949 p 21 Tommy Bolt Wins Tucson Open Golf Lodi News Sentinel California UP February 14 1955 p 8 Gene Littler Wins Tucson Open Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pennsylvania AP February 16 1959 p 18 Tucson Won By Dave Hill Middlesboro Daily News Kentucky UPI February 20 1961 p 14 Sinclair Murray February 19 1962 Phil Rodgers Wins Tucson The Gettysburg Times Pennsylvania AP p 4 Eger Bob February 22 1965 Charles Tops Field At Tucson Ellensburg Daily Record Washington AP p 5 Knudson In Charge To Tucson Win Daytona Beach Morning Journal Florida AP February 26 1968 p 17 Murphy Second In Tucson Open The News Dispatch Jeannette Pennsylvania UPI February 16 1970 p 10 Miller Wins At Tucson With Ben Crenshaw Second The Bonham Daily Favorite Texas UPI January 21 1974 p 6 Tucson golf director unhappy with Weiskopf The Gadsden Times Alabama AP January 19 1975 p 40 Weiskopf Denies Not Trying Best The Evening Independent St Petersburg Florida AP January 20 1975 p 2 C Miller Wins Tucson Open For 3rd Time Ludington Daily News Michigan UPI January 12 1976 p 6 Sargis Joe January 17 1977 First tour win for Bruce Lietzke Beaver County Times Pennsylvania UPI p B 2 Colbert Wins At Tucson The Times News Hendersonville North Carolina AP February 20 1980 p 15 Johnny Miller Wins Tucson Waycross Journal Herald Georgia AP January 12 1981 p P 7 In a dull match Watson takestitle The Register Guard Eugene Oregon AP January 9 1984 p 2B Thorpe Captures Match Play Event The New York Times AP November 3 1986 Rookie Robert Gamez Tucson Open winner The Vindicator Youngstown Ohio AP January 15 1990 p 14 Super 12 under puts Frost on par New Sunday Times Malaysia January 14 1990 p 18 Green Bob January 14 1991 Mickelson wins as amateur in Tucson Open The Prescott Courier Arizona AP p 6A Zullo Allan 2001 Astonishing but True Golf Facts Andrew McMeel Publishing ISBN 9780740714269 Janzen stays cool in Tucson The Milwaukee Journal Wisconsin AP February 17 1992 p C6 Mickelson captures Tucson Open by one Manila Standard Philippines January 22 1995 p 25 Despite bogey on 18th Jeff Sluman captures Tucson Open Kingman Daily Miner Arizona AP February 24 1997 p 6 First time winner takes Tucson Open Herald Journal Spartanburg South Carolina AP February 28 2000 p B2 Willis comes of age in Tucson BBC Sport January 16 2001 Clayton Michael March 1 2005 Ogilvy wins US playoff The Age Melbourne Australia 32 21 29 N 111 01 23 W 32 358 N 111 023 W 32 358 111 023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tucson Open amp oldid 1212658611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
