Tucson's professional golf tournament has gone by many names, has been played at many sites, and has had different formats since Ray Mangrum won the inaugural Tucson Open in 1945. Southern Arizona's passion for golf hasn't changed. As we prepare for the third annual WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, here's a look at the history of pro golf in Tucson.
Tucson Open (1945-55)
1945 — Ray Mangrum shoots a final-round 64 to win the first Tucson Open at historic El Rio Country Club. Mangrum edged the legendary Byron Nelson for the $1,000 first-place prize.
1949 — Lloyd Mangrum sets a record with his 17-under par 263 to win the tournament.
1950 — Chandler Harper holds off the legendary Sam Snead and fan-favorite Manuel de la Torre for the Open title.
Tucson Open Invitational (1956-60)
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1957 — Dow Finsterwald defeats Don Whitt in an 18-hole playoff, the first in Tucson tournament history.
"We had an 18-hole playoff on Monday," Finsterwald told the Star a few years ago. "The PGA staff went on ahead to the next tournament. The guy that ran the playoff, Ed Keating, carried a holstered gun. … That was the last time I ever had an armed official at a match."
Home of the Sun Open (1961)
1961 — Dave Hill beats Tommy Bolt in a sudden-death playoff, the first of its kind. The tournament is held at El Rio Country Club.
Tucson Open Invitational (1962-71)
1963 — Don January wins the tournament and takes home $3,500 — the most to date in tournament history.
1966 — With the support of the Tucson Conquistadores, the Tucson Open makes its first appearance on national television. Joe Campbell wins the tournament.
1967 — Arnold Palmer, backed by "Arnie's Army," wins to take home $12,500, the first five-figure winner's check in tournament history.
1969 — Lee Trevino wins with a 17-under 271, the largest margin-of-victory since 1963. Trevino repeats as champion a year later.
Dean Martin Tucson Open (1972-75)
1972 — Dean Martin's sponsorship brings celebrities — and NBC's television cameras — to Tucson. Miller Barber defeats George Archer after an 18-hole playoff and three additional playoff holes on Monday. More than 100,000 fans — a record — watch the tournament at Tucson National.
1975 — Johnny Miller shoots a tournament-record 61 to finish with a 263, 25 strokes under par. Years later, Miller told the Star the performance was the second-best round of his career.
NBC Tucson Open (1976)
1976 — Johnny Miller wins his third consecutive Tucson title.
Joe Garagiola Tucson Open (1977-83)
1979 — Bruce Lietzke wins $45,000 in the tournament, played at Randolph North.
Seiko-Tucson Match Play Championship (1984-86)
1984 — Match Play makes its professional debut in Tucson, bringing PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour players to town for the event. Tom Watson wins the first Match Play title; Jim Thorpe wins the next two.
Seiko Tucson Open (1987)
1987 — Mike Reid wins the Tucson Open, which has an old format — stroke play — and a new home, TPC at Starr Pass.
Northern Telecom Tucson Open (1988-90)
1988 — David Frost takes home the winner's share of the $1 million purse.
1990 — Former Arizona Wildcat Robert Gamez wins in his first tournament as a member of the PGA Tour. The tournament is played at Starr Pass and Randolph North.
Northern Telecom Open (1991-95)
1991 — Phil Mickelson, an Arizona State junior, enters on a sponsor's exemption and wins. As an amateur, Mickelson forfeits the $180,000 prize.
Nortel Open (1996)
1996 — Phil Mickelson wins his third Tucson title. This time, like the previous year, he is allowed to keep the $225,000 winner's check.
Tucson Chrysler Classic (1997-98)
1998 — David Duval completes a 19-under-par 269 for a four-stroke victory at Tucson National. Duval closed with a 1-over 73, but easily held off Justin Leonard and David Toms.
Touchstone Energy Tucson Open (1999-2002)
1999 — Gabriel Hjertstedt wins his share of the then-record $2.75 million purse in a playoff.
2000 — Jim Carter wins his first tournament.
Chrysler Classic of Tucson (2003-06)
2004 — Heath Slocum pars the 18th hole to hold off Aaron Baddeley, who bogeys the final hole.
2005 — Geoff Ogilvy earns his first PGA Tour victory, but he has to work for it. Ogilvy, Mark Calcavecchia and Kevin Na enter a three-way playoff after the final round. Na and Ogilvy advance past the first playoff hole, and Ogilvy wins the tournament on the second.
2006 — Kirk Triplett shoots a final-round 63 to become the final player to hoist the conquistador trophy. The gold-plated helmet was mothballed when Match Play came to town.
"It's kind of got a bucket look to it," Triplett said.
WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship (2007- present)
2007 — Henrik Stenson edges Geoff Ogilvy 2 and 1 in the final to win the first WGC-Accenture Match Play title in Tucson. The tournament is held at The Gallery Golf Club, South Course.
2008 — Tiger Woods routs Stewart Cink 8 and 7 for the Match Play title. The world's best golfer takes home $1.3 million.
Sources: Tucson Conquistadores, Arizona Daily Star archives
