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

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

References

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  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