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Western Open

Coordinates: 41°40′37″N 87°57′07″W / 41.677°N 87.952°W / 41.677; -87.952
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Western Open
Tournament information
LocationLemont, Illinois
Established1899
Course(s)Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
(Dubsdread Course)
Par71
Length7,309 yards (6,683 m)[1]
Organized byWestern Golf Association
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$5,000,000
Month playedJuly
Final year2006
Tournament record score
Aggregate267 Scott Hoch (2001)
267 Tiger Woods (2003)
To par−21 as above
Final champion
South Africa Trevor Immelman
Location map
Cog Hill G&CC is located in the United States
Cog Hill G&CC
Cog Hill G&CC
Location in the United States
Cog Hill G&CC is located in Illinois
Cog Hill G&CC
Cog Hill G&CC
Location in Illinois

The Western Open was a professional golf tournament in the United States, for most of its history an event on the PGA Tour.

The tournament's founding in 1899 actually pre-dated the start of the Tour, which is generally dated from 1916, the year the PGA of America was founded. The Western Open, organized by the Western Golf Association, was first played in September 1899 at the Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois the week preceding the U.S. Open. At the time of its final edition in 2006, it was the third-oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after The Open (1860) and U.S. Open (1895). The tournament was held a total of 103 times over the course of 108 years. The event was not held in 1900, 1918 (World War I), and 1943–45 (World War II). Players from the U.S. won the tournament 77 times, followed by Scotland with fifteen wins. Walter Hagen had the most victories with five, and seventeen others won the event at least twice. The champions' list includes two amateurs: Chick Evans in 1910 and Scott Verplank in 1985.

Beginning in 2007, the Western Open was renamed the BMW Championship, the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup playoff series. Played with the PGA Tour's point system as the sole qualification standard, it is no longer open to amateurs.

Title sponsorship was introduced in 1987, and included Beatrice, Centel, Sprint, Motorola, Advil, Golf Digest, and Cialis.

History

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The Western Open, founded and run by the Western Golf Association, was first played in 1899 in Illinois at the Glen View Club in Golf, a northern suburb of Chicago[2] Like the U.S. Open, in its early days it was almost exclusively won by immigrant golf professionals from the British Isles, most of whom gained full citizenship to the United States. In its early decades it was widely regarded as one of the premier golf tournaments in the USA, along with other notables of the day like the North and South Open, the PGA Championship and the Shawnee Open.

The Western Golf Association was, in some ways, and for some years, something of a rival to the United States Golf Association, especially in the midwestern and western sections of the country.[3]

From the event's inception through 1961, it was played at a variety of midwestern locations, as well as places such as Arizona (Phoenix), Utah (Salt Lake City) and California (San Francisco, Los Angeles). In 1923, it was held in Tennessee at the Colonial Country Club in Memphis.[2]

Beginning in 1962, the Western Open settled within the Chicago metropolitan area and was held at a variety of courses through 1973. In 1974, it found an annual home at the Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, a western suburb. It was played here through 1990, when the PGA Tour adopted a policy of holding events only at clubs which allowed minorities and women to be members.[4][5] It moved in 1991 to Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, southwest of Chicago.[4][6] A 72-hole public complex, its Dubsdread Course hosted the Western Open for sixteen editions, through 2006.[2]

In 1899, the prize fund was $150, and Willie Smith's winner's share was fifty dollars. The purse in 2006 was $5 million, with $900,000 to the final winner, Trevor Immelman.

During the second round of the 1975 tournament on Friday, June 27, Lee Trevino and Jerry Heard were struck by lightning on the 13th green of Butler National while waiting out a rain delay.[7][8][9] Also struck at other parts of the course were Bobby Nichols, Jim Ahern, and Tony Jacklin.[10][11][12]

BMW Championship

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In 2007, the Western Open was renamed—and changed in terms of invitational criteria—to the BMW Championship, part of the four-event FedEx Cup Playoff Series. The Western Golf Association continues to run the tournament. The BMW Championship is the last FedEx Cup playoff event before The Tour Championship

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue Location
Cialis Western Open
2006 South Africa Trevor Immelman 271 −13 2 strokes Australia Mathew Goggin
United States Tiger Woods
Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
2005 United States Jim Furyk 270 −14 2 strokes United States Tiger Woods Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
2004 Trinidad and Tobago Stephen Ames 274 −10 2 strokes United States Steve Lowery Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
Western Open
2003 United States Tiger Woods (3) 267 −21 5 strokes United States Rich Beem Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
Advil Western Open
2002 United States Jerry Kelly 269 −19 2 strokes United States Davis Love III Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
2001 United States Scott Hoch 267 −21 1 stroke United States Davis Love III Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
2000 Australia Robert Allenby 274 −14 Playoff Zimbabwe Nick Price Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
Motorola Western Open
1999 United States Tiger Woods (2) 273 −15 3 strokes Canada Mike Weir Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1998 United States Joe Durant 271 −17 2 strokes Fiji Vijay Singh Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1997 United States Tiger Woods 275 −13 3 strokes New Zealand Frank Nobilo Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1996 United States Steve Stricker 270 −18 8 strokes United States Billy Andrade
United States Jay Don Blake
Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1995 United States Billy Mayfair 279 −9 1 stroke United States Jay Haas
United States Justin Leonard
United States Jeff Maggert
United States Scott Simpson
Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1994 Zimbabwe Nick Price (2) 277 −11 1 stroke United States Greg Kraft Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
Sprint Western Open
1993 Zimbabwe Nick Price 269 −19 5 strokes Australia Greg Norman Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
Centel Western Open
1992 United States Ben Crenshaw 276 −12 1 stroke Australia Greg Norman Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1991 United States Russ Cochran 275 −13 2 strokes Australia Greg Norman Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois
1990 United States Wayne Levi 275 −13 4 strokes United States Payne Stewart Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
Beatrice Western Open
1989 United States Mark McCumber (2) 275 −13 Playoff United States Peter Jacobsen Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1988 United States Jim Benepe 278 −10 1 stroke United States Peter Jacobsen Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1987 United States D. A. Weibring 207 −9 1 stroke United States Larry Nelson
Australia Greg Norman
Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
Western Open
1986 United States Tom Kite 286 −2 Playoff United States Fred Couples
South Africa David Frost
Zimbabwe Nick Price
Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1985 United States Scott Verplank (a) 279 −9 Playoff United States Jim Thorpe Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1984 United States Tom Watson (3) 280 −8 Playoff Australia Greg Norman Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1983 United States Mark McCumber 284 −4 1 stroke United States Tom Watson Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1982 United States Tom Weiskopf 276 −12 1 stroke United States Larry Nelson Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1981 United States Ed Fiori 277 −11 4 strokes United States Jim Colbert
United States Greg Powers
United States Jim Simons
Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1980 United States Scott Simpson 281 −7 5 strokes United States Andy Bean Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1979 United States Larry Nelson 286 −2 Playoff United States Ben Crenshaw Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1978 United States Andy Bean 282 −6 Playoff United States Bill Rogers Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1977 United States Tom Watson (2) 283 −5 1 stroke United States Wally Armstrong
United States Johnny Miller
Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1976 United States Al Geiberger 288 +4 1 stroke United States Joe Porter Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1975 United States Hale Irwin 283 −1 1 stroke South Africa Bobby Cole Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1974 United States Tom Watson 287 +3 2 strokes United States J. C. Snead
United States Tom Weiskopf
Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois
1973 United States Billy Casper (4) 272 −12 1 stroke United States Larry Hinson
United States Hale Irwin
Midlothian Midlothian, Illinois
1972 United States Jim Jamieson 271 −13 6 strokes United States Labron Harris Jr. Sunset Ridge Northfield, Illinois
1971 Australia Bruce Crampton 279 −5 2 strokes United States Bobby Nichols Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois
1970 United States Hugh Royer Jr. 273 −11 1 stroke United States Dale Douglass Beverly Chicago, Illinois
1969 United States Billy Casper (3) 276 −8 4 strokes United States Rocky Thompson Midlothian Midlothian, Illinois
1968 United States Jack Nicklaus (2) 273 −11 3 strokes United States Miller Barber Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois
1967 United States Jack Nicklaus 274 −10 2 strokes United States Doug Sanders Beverly Chicago, Illinois
1966 United States Billy Casper (2) 283 −1 3 strokes United States Gay Brewer Medinah Medinah, Illinois
1965 United States Billy Casper 270 −14 2 strokes United States Jack McGowan
United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez
Tam O'Shanter Niles, Illinois
1964 United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez 268 −16 1 stroke United States Arnold Palmer Tam O'Shanter Niles, Illinois
1963 United States Arnold Palmer (2) 280 −4 Playoff United States Julius Boros
United States Jack Nicklaus
Beverly Chicago, Illinois
1962 United States Jacky Cupit 281 −3 2 strokes United States Billy Casper Medinah Medinah, Illinois
1961 United States Arnold Palmer 271 −13 2 strokes United States Sam Snead Blythefield Belmont, Michigan
1960 Canada Stan Leonard 278 −10 Playoff United States Art Wall Jr. Western Redford, Michigan
1959 United States Mike Souchak 272 −8 1 stroke United States Arnold Palmer Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1958 United States Doug Sanders 275 −13 1 stroke United States Dow Finsterwald Red Run Royal Oak, Michigan
1957 United States Doug Ford 279 −5 Playoff United States George Bayer
United States Gene Littler
United States Billy Maxwell
Plum Hollow Southfield, Michigan
1956 United States Mike Fetchick 284 −4 Playoff United States Doug Ford
United States Jay Hebert
United States Don January
Presidio San Francisco, California
1955 United States Cary Middlecoff 272 −16 2 strokes United States Mike Souchak Portland Portland, Oregon
1954 United States Lloyd Mangrum (2) 277 −7 Playoff United States Ted Kroll Kenwood Cincinnati, Ohio
1953 United States Dutch Harrison 278 −2 4 strokes United States Ed Furgol
United States Fred Haas
United States Lloyd Mangrum
Bellerive Saint Louis, Missouri
1952 United States Lloyd Mangrum 274 −6 8 strokes South Africa Bobby Locke Westwood Saint Louis, Missouri
1951 United States Marty Furgol 270 −10 1 stroke United States Cary Middlecoff Davenport Pleasant Valley, Iowa
1950 United States Sam Snead (2) 282 −2 1 stroke Australia Jim Ferrier
United States Dutch Harrison
Brentwood Los Angeles, California
1949 United States Sam Snead 268 −20 4 strokes United States Cary Middlecoff Keller Saint Paul, Minnesota
1948 United States Ben Hogan (2) 281 −7 Playoff United States Ed Oliver Brookfield Clarence, New York
1947 United States Johnny Palmer 270 −18 1 stroke South Africa Bobby Locke
United States Ed Oliver
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, Utah
1946 United States Ben Hogan 271 −17 4 strokes United States Lloyd Mangrum Sunset Saint Louis, Missouri
1943–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1942 United States Herman Barron 276 −8 2 strokes United States Henry Picard Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona
1941 United States Ed Oliver 275 −9 3 strokes United States Ben Hogan
United States Byron Nelson
Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona
1940 United States Jimmy Demaret 293 +9 Playoff United States Toney Penna River Oaks Houston, Texas
1939 United States Byron Nelson 281 −2 1 stroke United States Lloyd Mangrum Medinah Medinah, Illinois
1938 United States Ralph Guldahl (3) 279 −5 7 strokes United States Sam Snead Westwood Saint Louis, Missouri
1937 United States Ralph Guldahl (2) 288 E Playoff United States Horton Smith Canterbury Beachwood, Ohio
1936 United States Ralph Guldahl 274 −10 3 strokes United States Ray Mangrum Davenport Pleasant Valley, Iowa
1935 United States Johnny Revolta 290 +6 4 strokes United States Willie Goggin South Bend South Bend, Indiana
1934 England Harry Cooper 274 −14 Playoff United States Ky Laffoon Country Club of Peoria Peoria Heights, Illinois
1933 Scotland Macdonald Smith (3) 282 E 6 strokes United States Tommy Armour Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois
1932 United States Walter Hagen (5) 287 −1 1 stroke United States Olin Dutra Canterbury Beachwood, Ohio
1931 United States Ed Dudley 280 −4 4 strokes United States Walter Hagen Miami Valley Dayton, Ohio
1930 United States Gene Sarazen 278 −10 7 strokes United States Al Espinosa Indianwood Lake Orion, Michigan
1929 United States Tommy Armour 273 −7 8 strokes United States Horton Smith Ozaukee Mequon, Wisconsin
1928 United States Abe Espinosa 291 +3 3 strokes United States Johnny Farrell North Shore Glenview, Illinois
1927 United States Walter Hagen (4) 281 −1 4 strokes United States Al Espinosa
United States Bill Mehlhorn
Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois
1926 United States Walter Hagen (3) 279 −1 9 strokes England Harry Cooper
United States Gene Sarazen
Highland Indianapolis, Indiana
1925 Scotland Macdonald Smith (2) 281 −7 6 strokes United States Leo Diegel
United States Johnny Farrell
United States Emmet French
United States Walter Hagen
United States Bill Mehlhorn
Youngstown Youngstown, Ohio
1924 United States Bill Mehlhorn 293 +5 8 strokes United States Al Watrous Calumet Homewood, Illinois
1923 Scotland Jock Hutchison (2) 281 −3 6 strokes Scotland Bobby Cruickshank
United States Leo Diegel
United States Walter Hagen
Australia Joe Kirkwood, Sr.
Colonial Cordova, Tennessee
1922 United States Mike Brady 291 +3 10 strokes Scotland Laurie Ayton, Snr
Scotland Jock Hutchison
Oakland Hills Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1921 United States Walter Hagen (2) 287 +3 5 strokes Scotland Jock Hutchison Oakwood Cleveland Heights, Ohio
1920 Scotland Jock Hutchison 296 +4 1 stroke England Jim Barnes
Scotland Clarence Hackney
Scotland Harry Hampton
Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois
1919 England Jim Barnes (3) 283 +3 3 strokes United States Leo Diegel Mayfield Lyndhurst, Ohio
1918: No tournament due to World War I
1917 England Jim Barnes (2) 283 −5 2 strokes United States Walter Hagen Westmoreland Wilmette, Illinois
1916 United States Walter Hagen 286 −2 1 stroke Scotland Jock Hutchison
England George Sargent
Blue Mound Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1915 United States Tom McNamara 304 +4 2 strokes Scotland Alex Cunningham Glen Oak Glen Ellyn, Illinois
1914 England Jim Barnes 293 −3 1 stroke Scotland Willie Kidd Interlachen Edina, Minnesota
1913 United States John McDermott 295 −1 7 strokes England Mike Brady Memphis Memphis, Tennessee
1912 Scotland Macdonald Smith 299 +11 3 strokes Scotland Alex Robertson Idlewild Flossmoor, Illinois
1911 Scotland Bobby Simpson (2) 2 and 1 United States Tom McNamara Kent Grand Rapids, Michigan
1910 United States Chick Evans (a) 6 and 5 Scotland George Simpson Beverly Chicago, Illinois
1909 Scotland Willie Anderson (4) 288 9 strokes Scotland Stewart Gardner Skokie Glencoe, Illinois
1908 Scotland Willie Anderson (3) 299 1 stroke Scotland Fred McLeod Normandie Saint Louis, Missouri
1907 Scotland Bobby Simpson 307 2 strokes Scotland Willie Anderson
Scotland Fred McLeod
Hinsdale Clarendon Hills, Illinois
1906 Scotland Alex Smith (2) 306 3 strokes Scotland Jack Hobens Homewood Flossmoor, Illinois
1905 United States Arthur Smith 278 2 strokes Scotland James Maiden Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
1904 Scotland Willie Anderson (2) 304 4 strokes Scotland Alex Smith Kent Grand Rapids, Michigan
1903 Scotland Alex Smith 318 2 strokes Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie
Scotland David Brown
Milwaukee River Hills, Wisconsin
1902 Scotland Willie Anderson 299 5 strokes Scotland Willie Smith
England Bert Way
Euclid Cleveland Heights, Ohio
1901 Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie 160 2 strokes Scotland David Bell Midlthian Midlothian, Illinois
1900: No tournament
1899 Scotland Willie Smith 156 Playoff Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie Glen View Golf, Illinois

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Scoreboard: PGA Tour". Eugene Register-Guard. July 10, 2006. p. D4.
  2. ^ a b c Lis, Walter (September 6, 2011). "Western Open Golf Tournament". ChicagoGolfReport.com. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "History of the PGA Tour", by Al Barkow, 1989.
  4. ^ a b Hanley, Reid (September 12, 1990). "Western moves to Cog Hill". Chicago Tribune. p. 3, sec. 4.
  5. ^ "Western to move to Cog Hill". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 12, 1990. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  6. ^ Green, Bob (July 4, 1991). "Norman's entry helps Western". The Item. (Sumter, South Carolina). Associated Press. p. 3B.
  7. ^ Husar, John; Jauss, Bill (June 28, 1975). "Lightning fells 3 at Western Open". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, sec. 1.
  8. ^ Husar, John (June 29, 1975). "Heard may still play in Western". Chicago Tribune. p. 6, sec. 3.
  9. ^ "Trevino's survival a minor miracle". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 29, 1975. p. 1B.
  10. ^ "Trevino, two others survive lightning bolts". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 28, 1975. p. 1B.
  11. ^ "Lightning hits Trevino, 4 other golfers". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. June 28, 1975. p. 11.
  12. ^ "Lightning is a big shocker for 3 golfers". Miami News. Chicago Daily News Service. June 28, 1975. p. 3B.
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41°40′37″N 87°57′07″W / 41.677°N 87.952°W / 41.677; -87.952