Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf

The Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour Champions. From 2014 to 2019, it was played at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri on the par-3 Top of the Rock course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and the 18-hole Buffalo Ridge course, redesigned by Tom Fazio. The tournament was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, which owns the Big Cedar Lodge.[1] It is often called "The tournament that launched the Champions Tour". Starting in 2018, a second par-3 course, Mountain Top, a 13-hole course designed by Gary Player, was added to the tournament, which has the oddity of being a 67-hole tournament.

Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf
at Big Cedar
Tournament information
LocationRidgedale, Missouri, U.S.
Established1978
Course(s)Buffalo Ridge Golf Course
Top of the Rock
Par71 (BR)
39 (MT)
27 (TR)
Length6,963 yards (6,367 m) (BR)
1,912 yards (1,748 m) (MT)
2,659 yards (2,431 m) (TR)
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
(since 2002)
FormatStroke play – no cut
67 holes (age 50–65)
58 holes (over 65)
Prize fund$1.8 million
Month playedApril
Current champion
United States Scott Hoch and United States Tom Pernice Jr.
Ridgedale is located in the United States
Ridgedale
Ridgedale
Ridgedale is located in Missouri
Ridgedale
Ridgedale

From 1978 until 2012, it was known as the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. Prior to Big Cedar Lodge, it was played in Savannah, Georgia, at The Club at Savannah Harbor. Liberty Mutual was the main sponsor of the tournament.

In its final years, it consisted of two separate events using four-ball and alternate shot formats with two-man teams: the 67-hole Champions Division (age 50–65) and the 58-hole Legends Division (age 65+) (on the final day of the tournament, held at Top of the Rock, Legends played the course once, while Champions played the course twice). Only the Champions Division event was an official money/official victory event.[2]

For 2002 to 2013, it consisted of three separate events: the Legends Division is a 54-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 50, the Raphael Division is a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men age 50–69, and the Demaret Division is a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 70. Only the Legends Division event was an official money/official victory event.[3]

From 2014 until 2016, the tournament was held over 54 holes, one round at Buffalo Ridge, and four nine-hole rounds at Top of the Rock. In 2017, because of weather that washed out play and made the full Buffalo Ridge course unplayable, all 36 (or 27) holes were played at Top of the Rock, the first time a PGA Tour event was held exclusively on a Par 3 course.

The tournament was founded in 1978 and consisted of a 72-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 50. Its success provided impetus for the formation of the Senior PGA Tour in 1980. In 1987, a Legendary Division was added. This consisted of a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 60. These teams also competed in the Legends Division - Charles Coody & Dale Douglass won both divisions in 1998. In 1993, the 36-hole Demaret Division (named after tournament co-founder Jimmy Demaret) was added for men over 70. For this year alone, all three divisions were competed at individual stroke play. In 2002 the Legends Division became an individual stroke play event and became an official money event on the Champions Tour. This format remained through 2007. The Legendary Division was renamed the Raphael Division (after tournament co-founder Fred Raphael who had died in 2001) and became the 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 60.

The purse for the 2019 tournament was $1.8 million, with $171,000 going to each member of the winning team.

Tournament hosts

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The tournament has been played in several different locations since its founding.

Years Course City
2014–2019 Big Cedar Lodge Ridgedale, Missouri
2003–2013 The Club at Savannah Harbor Savannah, Georgia
1999–2002 World Golf Village (King & Bear courses) St. Augustine, Florida
1998 Summer Beach Golf Resort Amelia Island, Florida
1995–1997 PGA West (Stadium Course) La Quinta, California
1990–1994 Barton Creek Conference Center Austin, Texas
1978–1989 Onion Creek Country Club Austin, Texas

Team winners

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Champions Tour event (Legends Division 2002–2013, Champions Division 2014– )
Unofficial money event (Raphael Division 2002–2013, Demaret Division 2002–2013, Legends Division 2014–2017)
Year Champions Division (50–65) Legends Division (65+)
2020 No tournament
2019 Scott Hoch & Tom Pernice Jr.
2018 Paul Broadhurst & Kirk Triplett
2017 Carlos Franco & Vijay Singh Allen Doyle & Hubert Green
2016 Michael Allen & Woody Austin Bruce Fleisher & Larry Nelson
2015 Billy Andrade & Joe Durant Bruce Fleisher & Larry Nelson
2014 Fred Funk & Jeff Sluman Jim Colbert & Jim Thorpe
Year Legends Division (over 50's) Raphael Division (60–69) Demaret Division (over 70's)
2013 Brad Faxon & Jeff Sluman Ian Baker-Finch & Bart Bryant Jim Colbert & Bob Murphy
2012 Michael Allen & David Frost Mark James & Des Smyth Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead
2011 Mark McNulty & David Eger Mark James & Des Smyth Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead
2010 Mark O'Meara & Nick Price John Bland & Graham Marsh Gary Player & Bob Charles
2009 Bernhard Langer & Tom Lehman Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie Gary Player & Bob Charles
2008 Andy North & Tom Watson Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie Al Geiberger & Jimmy Powell
2007 Jay Haas Andy North & Tom Watson Butch Baird & Bobby Nichols
2006 Jay Haas Andy North & Tom Watson Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell
2005 Des Smyth Andy North & Tom Watson Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell
2004 Hale Irwin Bob Charles & Stewart Ginn Don January & Gene Littler
2003 Bruce Lietzke Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie Miller Barber & Jim Ferree
2002 Doug Tewell Bruce Lietzke & Bill Rogers Miller Barber & Jim Ferree
Unofficial money event (1978–2001)
Year Legends Division (over 50's) Legendary Division (over 60's) Demaret Division (over 70's)
2001 Jim Colbert & Andy North Jim Albus & Simon Hobday Don January & Gene Littler
2000 Jim Colbert & Andy North Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford
1999 Hubert Green & Gil Morgan Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford
1998 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford
1997 John Bland & Graham Marsh Don January & Gene Littler George Bayer & Jim Ferree
1996 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell Doug Ford & Art Wall Jr.
1995 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell Tommy Bolt & Jack Fleck
1994 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Don January & Gene Littler Al Balding & Jay Hebert
1992 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski
1991 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford
1990 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski
1989 Al Geiberger & Harold Henning Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford
1988 Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford
1987 Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody Jerry Barber & Doug Ford
1986 Don January & Gene Littler
1985 Don January & Gene Littler
1984 Gay Brewer & Billy Casper
1983 Roberto De Vicenzo & Rod Funseth
1982 Don January & Sam Snead
1981 Gene Littler & Bob Rosburg
1980 Tommy Bolt & Art Wall Jr.
1979 Julius Boros & Roberto De Vicenzo
1978 Gardner Dickinson & Sam Snead

Individual winners

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Year Winner Tournament Margin of victory Runner-up
1993 Harold Henning Legends of Golf Legends Division Playoff Don January, Tom Weiskopf
1993 Don January Legends of Golf Legendary Division 2 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo, Gay Brewer
1993 Jerry Barber Legends of Golf Demaret Division 10 strokes Kel Nagle

Multiple winners

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The following teams have won multiple times through 2017:

Team Total Legends/Champions Raphael/Legends Demaret
Don January & Gene Littler 6 2 2 2
Mike Hill & Lee Trevino 5 4 1
Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell 5 3 2
Andy North & Tom Watson 4 1 3
Charles Coody & Dale Douglass 3 2 1
Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford 3 3
Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie 3 3
Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford 3 3
Jim Colbert & Andy North 2 2
Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody 2 2
John Bland & Graham Marsh 2 1 1
Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski 2 2
Mark James & Des Smyth 2 2
Miller Barber & Jim Ferree 2 2
Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead 2 2
Gary Player & Bob Charles 2 2
Larry Nelson & Bruce Fleisher 2 2

The following individuals have won multiple times (as part of a team or individually) through 2017:

Player Total Legends/Champions Raphael/Legends Demaret
Don January 8 3 3 2
Gene Littler 7 3 2 2
Orville Moody 7 2 3 2
Andy North 6 3 3
Jimmy Powell 6 3 3
Charlie Sifford 6 3 3
Mike Hill 5 4 1
Lee Trevino 5 4 1
Roberto De Vicenzo 5 2 3
Charles Coody 4 3 1
Dale Douglass 4 3 1
Jim Colbert 4 2 1 1
Tom Watson 4 1 3
Des Smyth 3 1 2
Gary Koch 3 3
Roger Maltbie 3 3
Bob Charles 3 1 2
Jim Ferree 3 3
Joe Jimenez 3 3
Michael Allen 2 2
Bruce Crampton 2 2
Jay Haas 2 2
Harold Henning 2 2
Jeff Sluman 2 2
Sam Snead 2 2
John Bland 2 1 1
Hubert Green 2 1 1
Bruce Lietzke 2 1 1
Graham Marsh 2 1 1
Tommy Bolt 2 1 1
Al Geiberger 2 1 1
Art Wall Jr. 2 1 1
Mike Fetchick 2 2
Mark James 2 2
Bob Toski 2 2
Jerry Barber 2 1 1
Doug Ford 2 1 1
Miller Barber 2 2
Gibby Gilbert 2 2
Gary Player 2 2
J. C. Snead 2 2

References

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  1. ^ "Par-3 course to host historic event". PGA Tour. February 25, 2014.
  2. ^ Kupelian, Vartan (June 2, 2014). "Power Rankings: Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf". PGA Tour.
  3. ^ "Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf to Return to Team Format". PGA Tour. December 3, 2007. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007.
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36°34′33″N 93°11′38″W / 36.5757°N 93.1940°W / 36.5757; -93.1940