Tucson Open

Golf tournament formerly on the PGA Tour

Golf tournament

Chrysler Classic of Tucson

Tournament information
Location| Tucson, Arizona
Established| 1945
Course(s)| Omni Tucson National Golf Resort
(Catalina Course)[1]
Par| 72
Length| 7,193 yards (6,577 m)
Tour(s)| PGA Tour
Format| Stroke play
Prize fund| US$3,000,000
Month played| February
Final year| 2006
Tournament record score
Aggregate| 263 Lloyd Mangrum (1949)
263 Phil Rodgers (1962)
263 Johnny Miller (1975)
To par| −25 Johnny Miller (1975)
Final champion
Kirk Triplett
Location map

Omni Tucson National Golf Resort

Location in the United States

Show map of the United States

Omni Tucson National Golf Resort

Location in Arizona

Show map of Arizona

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of
victory | Runner(s)-up | Winner's
share ($)

|
|
|
|
|
|

Chrysler Classic of Tucson
2006 |  Kirk Triplett | 266 | −22 | 1 stroke |  Jerry Kelly | 540,000
2005 |  Geoff Ogilvy | 269 | −19 | Playoff |  Mark Calcavecchia
Kevin Na | 540,000
2004 |  Heath Slocum | 266 | −22 | 1 stroke |  Aaron Baddeley | 540,000
2003 |  Frank Lickliter | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes |  Chad Campbell | 540,000
Touchstone Energy Tucson Open
2002 |  Ian Leggatt | 268 | −20 | 2 strokes |  David Peoples
Loren Roberts | 540,000
2001 |  Garrett Willis | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Kevin Sutherland | 540,000
2000 |  Jim Carter | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes |  Chris DiMarco
Tom Scherrer
Jean van de Velde | 540,000
1999 |  Gabriel Hjertstedt | 276 | −12 | Playoff |  Tommy Armour III | 495,000
Tucson Chrysler Classic
1998 |  David Duval | 269 | −19 | 4 strokes |  Justin Leonard
David Toms | 360,000
1997 |  Jeff Sluman | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke |  Steve Jones | 234,000
Nortel Open
1996 |  Phil Mickelson (3) | 273 | −14 | 2 strokes |  Bob Tway | 225,000
Northern Telecom Open
1995 |  Phil Mickelson (2) | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke |  Jim Gallagher Jr.
Scott Simpson | 225,000
1994 |  Andrew Magee | 270 | −18 | 2 strokes |  Jay Don Blake
Loren Roberts
Vijay Singh
Steve Stricker | 198,000
1993 |  Larry Mize | 271 | −17 | 2 strokes |  Jeff Maggert | 198,000
1992 |  Lee Janzen | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke |  Bill Britton | 198,000
1991 |  Phil Mickelson (a) | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke |  Tom Purtzer
Bob Tway | 180,000
Northern Telecom Tucson Open
1990 |  Robert Gamez | 270 | −18 | 4 strokes |  Mark Calcavecchia
Jay Haas | 162,000
1989: No tournament
1988 |  David Frost | 266 | −22 | 5 strokes |  Mark Calcavecchia
Mark O'Meara | 108,000
Seiko Tucson Open
1987 |  Mike Reid | 268 | −20 | 4 strokes |  Chip Beck
Mark Calcavecchia
Hal Sutton
Fuzzy Zoeller | 108,000
Seiko-Tucson Match Play Championship
1986 |  Jim Thorpe (2) | 67 | −5 | 4 strokes |  Scott Simpson | 150,000
1985 |  Jim Thorpe | 4 and 3 |  Jack Renner | 150,000
1984 |  Tom Watson (2) | 2 and 1 |  Gil Morgan | 100,000
Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open
1983 |  Gil Morgan | 271 | −9 | Playoff |  Curtis Strange
Lanny Wadkins | 54,000
1982 |  Craig Stadler | 266 | −14 | 3 strokes |  Vance Heafner
John Mahaffey | 54,000
1981 |  Johnny Miller (4) | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes |  Lon Hinkle | 54,000
1980 |  Jim Colbert | 270 | −22 | 4 strokes |  Dan Halldorson | 54,000
1979 |  Bruce Lietzke (2) | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes |  Buddy Gardner
Jim Thorpe
Tom Watson | 45,000
1978 |  Tom Watson | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes |  Bobby Wadkins | 40,000
1977 |  Bruce Lietzke | 275 | −13 | Playoff |  Gene Littler | 40,000
NBC Tucson Open
1976 |  Johnny Miller (3) | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes |  Howard Twitty | 40,000
Dean Martin Tucson Open
1975 |  Johnny Miller (2) | 263 | −25 | 9 strokes |  John Mahaffey | 40,000
1974 |  Johnny Miller | 272 | −16 | 3 strokes |  Ben Crenshaw | 30,000
1973 |  Bruce Crampton | 277 | −11 | 5 strokes |  George Archer
Gay Brewer
Labron Harris Jr.
Bobby Nichols | 30,000
1972 |  Miller Barber | 273 | −15 | Playoff |  George Archer | 30,000
Tucson Open Invitational
1971 |  J. C. Snead | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Dale Douglass | 22,000
1970 |  Lee Trevino (2) | 275 | −13 | Playoff |  Bob Murphy | 20,000
1969 |  Lee Trevino | 271 | −17 | 7 strokes |  Miller Barber | 20,000
1968 |  George Knudson | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Frank Beard
Frank Boynton | 20,000
1967 |  Arnold Palmer | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Chuck Courtney | 12,000
1966 |  Joe Campbell | 278 | −10 | Playoff |  Gene Littler | 9,000
1965 |  Bob Charles | 271 | −17 | 4 strokes |  Al Geiberger | 6,800
1964 |  Jacky Cupit | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes |  Rex Baxter | 4,000
1963 |  Don January | 266 | −22 | 11 strokes |  Gene Littler
Phil Rodgers | 3,500
1962 |  Phil Rodgers | 263 | −17 | 3 strokes |  Jim Ferrier | 2,800
Home of the Sun Open
1961 |  Dave Hill | 269 | −11 | Playoff |  Tommy Bolt
Bud Sullivan | 2,800
Tucson Open Invitational
1960 |  Don January | 271 | −9 | 3 strokes |  Bob Harris | 2,800
1959 |  Gene Littler | 266 | −14 | 1 stroke |  Joe Campbell
Art Wall Jr. |
1958 |  Lionel Hebert | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes |  Don January |
1957 |  Dow Finsterwald | 269 | −11 | Playoff |  Don Whitt |
1956 |  Ted Kroll | 264 | −16 | 3 strokes |  Dow Finsterwald |
Tucson Open
1955 |  Tommy Bolt (2) | 266 | −14 | 3 strokes |  Bud Holscher
Art Wall Jr. |
1954: No tournament
1953 |  Tommy Bolt | 265 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Chandler Harper |
1952 |  Henry Williams, Jr. | 274 | −6 | 2 strokes |  Cary Middlecoff |
1951 |  Lloyd Mangrum (2) | 269 | −11 | 2 strokes |  Jack Burke Jr.
Jim Turnesa
Lew Worsham |
1950 |  Chandler Harper | 267 | −13 | 2 strokes |  Sam Snead |
1949 |  Lloyd Mangrum | 263 | −17 | 5 strokes |  Al Smith |
1948 |  Skip Alexander | 264 | −16 | 1 stroke |  Johnny Palmer |
1947 |  Jimmy Demaret (2) | 264 | −16 | 3 strokes |  Ben Hogan |
1946 |  Jimmy Demaret | 268 | −12 | 4 strokes |  Herman Barron |
1945 |  Ray Mangrum | 268 | −12 | 1 stroke |  Byron Nelson |

## Multiple winners

[edit]

Nine 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, 1947

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Korte, Tim (February 27, 2006). "Chrysler surprise". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. C2.
2. ^ "Mangrum Winner Of Tucson Golf". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania. UP. January 22, 1945. p. 17.
3. ^ "Tucson Open Won By Jimmy Demaret". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. UP. February 3, 1947. p. 5.
4. ^ "Mangrum Breaks Tucson Record". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania. UP. February 7, 1949. p. 21.
5. ^ "Tommy Bolt Wins Tucson Open Golf". Lodi News-Sentinel. California. UP. February 14, 1955. p. 8.
6. ^ "Gene Littler Wins Tucson Open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pennsylvania. AP. February 16, 1959. p. 18.
7. ^ "Tucson Won By Dave Hill". Middlesboro Daily News. Kentucky. UPI. February 20, 1961. p. 14.
8. ^ Sinclair, Murray (February 19, 1962). "Phil Rodgers Wins Tucson". The Gettysburg Times. Pennsylvania. AP. p. 4.
9. ^ Eger, Bob (February 22, 1965). "Charles Tops Field At Tucson". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. AP. p. 5.
10. ^ "Knudson In Charge To Tucson Win". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. AP. February 26, 1968. p. 17.
11. ^ "Murphy Second In Tucson Open". The News-Dispatch. Jeannette, Pennsylvania. UPI. February 16, 1970. p. 10.
12. ^ "Miller Wins At Tucson With Ben Crenshaw Second". The Bonham Daily Favorite. Texas. UPI. January 21, 1974. p. 6.
13. ^ "Tucson golf director unhappy with Weiskopf". The Gadsden Times. Alabama. AP. January 19, 1975. p. 40.
14. ^ "Weiskopf Denies Not Trying Best". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. AP. January 20, 1975. p. 2-C.
15. ^ "Miller Wins Tucson Open For 3rd Time". Ludington Daily News. Michigan. UPI. January 12, 1976. p. 6.
16. ^ Sargis, Joe (January 17, 1977). "First tour win for Bruce Lietzke". Beaver County Times. Pennsylvania. UPI. p. B-2.
17. ^ "Colbert Wins At Tucson". The Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. AP. February 20, 1980. p. 15.
18. ^ "Johnny Miller Wins Tucson". Waycross Journal-Herald. Georgia. AP. January 12, 1981. p. P-7.
19. ^ "In a 'dull match', Watson takestitle". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. AP. January 9, 1984. p. 2B.
20. ^ "Thorpe Captures Match-Play Event". The New York Times. AP. November 3, 1986.
21. ^ "Rookie Robert Gamez Tucson Open winner". The Vindicator. Youngstown, Ohio. AP. January 15, 1990. p. 14.
22. ^ "Super 12-under puts Frost on par". New Sunday Times. Malaysia. January 14, 1990. p. 18.
23. ^ Green, Bob (January 14, 1991). "Mickelson wins as amateur in Tucson Open". The Prescott Courier. Arizona. AP. p. 6A.
24. ^ Zullo, Allan (2001). Astonishing but True Golf Facts. Andrew McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780740714269.
25. ^ "Janzen stays cool in Tucson". The Milwaukee Journal. Wisconsin. AP. February 17, 1992. p. C6.
26. ^ "Mickelson captures Tucson Open by one". Manila Standard. Philippines. January 22, 1995. p. 25.
27. ^ "Despite bogey on 18th, Jeff Sluman captures Tucson Open". Kingman Daily Miner. Arizona. AP. February 24, 1997. p. 6.
28. ^ "First-time winner takes Tucson Open". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. AP. February 28, 2000. p. B2.
29. ^ "Willis comes of age in Tucson". BBC Sport. January 16, 2001.
30. ^ Clayton, Michael (March 1, 2005). "Ogilvy wins US playoff". The Age. Melbourne, Australia.

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