Tucson Open

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.

• 1945: Ray Mangrum shoots a final round 64 to win the inaugural version of the tournament.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5FgbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pEwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5791,1062517&dq=ray+mangrum+tuscon&hl=en |title=Mangrum Winner Of Tucson Golf |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |location=Pennsylvania |date=January 22, 1945 |page=17 |agency=UP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uKtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4692,1464750&dq=jimmy+demaret+tucson&hl=en |title=Tucson Open Won By Jimmy Demaret |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |date=February 3, 1947 |page=5 |agency=UP}}
• 1949: Lloyd Mangrum shoots a tournament record 263. He wins by five shots over Al Smith.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sbsbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JE4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3148,2541459&dq=lloyd+mangrum+tucson&hl=en |title=Mangrum Breaks Tucson Record |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |location=Pennsylvania |date=February 7, 1949 |page=21 |agency=UP}}
• 1955: Tommy Bolt eagles the 72nd hole to successfully defend his Tucson Open title.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hJNJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UQwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2860,2068442&dq=tommy+bolt+tucson&hl=en |title=Tommy Bolt Wins Tucson Open Golf |newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=California |date=February 14, 1955 |page=8 |agency=UP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y4JDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NqsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4545,2146695&dq=dave+hill+tucson&hl=en |title=Gene Littler Wins Tucson Open |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |location=Pennsylvania |date=February 16, 1959 |page=18 |agency=AP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y4JDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NqsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4545,2146695&dq=dave+hill+tucson&hl=en |title=Tucson Won By Dave Hill |newspaper=Middlesboro Daily News |location=Kentucky |date=February 20, 1961 |page=14 |agency=UPI}}
• 1962: Phil Rodgers holes a wedge shot from 65-feet for eagle on the 72nd hole to edge Bud Sullivan by one shot.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r4ElAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2fIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1895,633022&dq=phil+rodgers+tucson&hl=en |title=Phil Rodgers Wins Tucson |newspaper=The Gettysburg Times |location=Pennsylvania |date=February 19, 1962 |page=4 |agency=AP |first=Murray |last=Sinclair}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-DViAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YEsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5666,2048951&dq=bob+charles+tucson&hl=en |title=Charles Tops Field At Tucson |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=Washington |date=February 22, 1965 |page=5 |agency=AP |first=Bob |last=Eger}}
• 1968: George Knudson wins for the second consecutive week on the PGA Tour. He finishes one shot ahead of Frank Beard and Frank Boynton.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uG4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fskEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4079,6092771&dq=george+knudson+tucson&hl=en |title=Knudson In Charge To Tucson Win |newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |location=Florida |date=February 26, 1968 |page=17 |agency=AP}}
• 1970: Lee Trevino successfully defends his Tucson Open title. He birdies the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bob Murphy.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-6ZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wEENAAAAIBAJ&pg=4335,3534461&dq=lee+trevino+tucson+bob+murphy+playoff&hl=en |title=Murphy Second In Tucson Open |newspaper=The News-Dispatch |location=Jeannette, Pennsylvania |date=February 16, 1970 |page=10 |agency=UPI}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4TNfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XU8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4072,659599&dq=johnny+miller+tucson+ben+crenshaw&hl=en |title=Miller Wins At Tucson With Ben Crenshaw Second |newspaper=The Bonham Daily Favorite |location=Texas |date=January 21, 1974 |page=6 |agency=UPI}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cKkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e9YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3977,2685417&dq=tucson+open+tom+weiskopf&hl=en |title=Tucson golf director unhappy with Weiskopf |newspaper=The Gadsden Times |location=Alabama |date=January 19, 1975 |page=40 |agency=AP}} Weiskopf denied the allegations by saying "All they have to do is ask my playing partners."{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zmdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QVgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7056,1130179&dq=tucson+open+tom+weiskopf&hl=en |title=Weiskopf Denies Not Trying Best |newspaper=The Evening Independent |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |date=January 20, 1975 |page=2-C |agency=AP}}
• 1976: Johnny Miller wins at Tucson for the third consecutive year. He finishes three shots ahead of Howard Twitty.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7pNaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MEoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5105,807438&dq=johnny+miller+tucson+howard+twitty&hl=en |title=Miller Wins Tucson Open For 3rd Time |newspaper=Ludington Daily News |location=Michigan |date=January 12, 1976 |page=6 |agency=UPI}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eHYvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D9sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3325,2808756&dq=bruce+lietzke+gene+littler+tucson&hl=en |title=First tour win for Bruce Lietzke |newspaper=Beaver County Times |location=Pennsylvania |date=January 17, 1977 |page=B-2 |agency=UPI |first=Joe |last=Sargis}}
• 1980: Poor weather causes the tournament to finish on a Tuesday. Jim Colbert is the winner by four shots over Dan Halldorson.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BzEaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4764,4669749&dq=jim+colbert+tucson&hl=en |title=Colbert Wins At Tucson |newspaper=The Times-News |location=Hendersonville, North Carolina |date=February 20, 1980 |page=15 |agency=AP}}
• 1981: Johnny Miller wins Tucson for the fourth time. He shoots a final round 65 to finish two shots ahead of Lon Hinkle.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E_NZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2koNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5707,1161084&dq=johnny+miller+tucson&hl=en |title=Johnny Miller Wins Tucson |newspaper=Waycross Journal-Herald |location=Georgia |date=January 12, 1981 |page=P-7 |agency=AP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19840109&id=yqxjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2579,1867981&hl=en |title=In a 'dull match', Watson takestitle |newspaper=The Register-Guard |location=Eugene, Oregon |date=January 9, 1984 |page=2B |agency=AP}}
• 1986: Defending champion Jim Thorpe wins the last match play edition of Tucson. He defeats Scott Simpson 67 to 71 in the finals.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/03/sports/thorpe-captures-match-play-event.html |title=Thorpe Captures Match-Play Event |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 3, 1986 |agency=AP}}
• 1990: Robert Gamez wins on the PGA Tour in his first ever event. He finishes four shots ahead of Mark Calcavecchia and Jay Haas.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5PJYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5995,5798804&dq=robert+gamez+tucson&hl=en |title=Rookie Robert Gamez Tucson Open winner |newspaper=The Vindicator |location=Youngstown, Ohio |date=January 15, 1990 |page=14 |agency=AP}} During the tournament's second round, 1988 Tucson champion David Frost, becomes the first PGA Tour player in 33 years to shoot a 60.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VaRUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iZADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6960,3305582&dq=david+frost+tucson&hl=en |title=Super 12-under puts Frost on par |newspaper=New Sunday Times |location=Malaysia |date=January 14, 1990 |page=18}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FhNNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4YEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4145,2192509&dq=phil+mickelson+tucson&hl=en |title=Mickelson wins as amateur in Tucson Open |newspaper=The Prescott Courier |location=Arizona |date=January 14, 1991 |page=6A |agency=AP |first=Bob |last=Green}} 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.{{cite book |last=Zullo |first=Allan |title=Astonishing but True Golf Facts |publisher=Andrew McMeel Publishing |year=2001 |isbn=9780740714269 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/astonishingbuttr00zull }}
• 1992: Future two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen collects his first ever PGA Tour title. He edges Bill Britton by one shot.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tDwdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TSwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6697,2414697&dq=lee+janzen+tucson&hl=en |title=Janzen stays cool in Tucson |newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal |location=Wisconsin |date=February 17, 1992 |page=C6 |agency=AP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZjpNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0QoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3057,3564891&dq=phil+mickelson+tucson&hl=en |title=Mickelson captures Tucson Open by one |newspaper=Manila Standard |location=Philippines |date=January 22, 1995 |page=25}}
• 1997: Jeff Sluman earns his first PGA Tour title since the 1988 PGA Championship. He wins by one shot over Steve Jones.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bpNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HlMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6655,4396715&dq=jeff+sluman+tucson&hl=en |title=Despite bogey on 18th, Jeff Sluman captures Tucson Open |newspaper=Kingman Daily Miner |location=Arizona |date=February 24, 1997 |page=6 |agency=AP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d90pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3c8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4724,7841241&dq=jim+carter+tucson&hl=en |title=First-time winner takes Tucson Open |newspaper=Herald-Journal |location=Spartanburg, South Carolina |date=February 28, 2000 |page=B2 |agency=AP}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/1119645.stm |title=Willis comes of age in Tucson |work=BBC Sport |date=January 16, 2001}}
• 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Golf/Ogilvy-breaks-through/2005/02/28/1109546797439.html |title=Ogilvy wins US playoff |newspaper=The Age |location=Melbourne, Australia |date=March 1, 2005 |first=Michael |last=Clayton}}

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

{{reflist}}

{{Former PGA Tour Events}}

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Category:Former PGA Tour events

Category:Golf tournaments in Arizona

Category:Sports competitions in Tucson, Arizona

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1945

Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2006

Category:1945 establishments in Arizona

Category:2006 disestablishments in Arizona