The QBE Shootout[1] was a team golf tournament that took place on the PGA Tour as an unofficial money event. It was originally played during the off-season.

QBE Shootout
Tournament information
LocationNaples, Florida
Established1989
Course(s)Tiburón Golf Club
(Gold Course)
Par72
Length7,288 yards (6,664 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour (unofficial event)
FormatTeam stroke play
Prize fundUS$3,600,000
Month playedDecember
Final year2022
Tournament record score
Aggregate179 Harris English and
Matt Kuchar (2020)
To par−37 as above
Final champion
United States Tom Hoge and United States Sahith Theegala
Location map
Tiburón GC is located in the United States
Tiburón GC
Tiburón GC
Location in the United States
Tiburón GC is located in Florida
Tiburón GC
Tiburón GC
Location in Florida

The event began in 1989, as the RMCC Invitational. It was hosted by golfer Greg Norman. The tournament was soon renamed the Shark Shootout after Norman's nickname, and has had several names since (see Winners below). The first eleven editions of the tournament were played at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California (1989–99). It was then played for one year at Doral Resort & Spa, on the Norman designed Great White Course, before moving to Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida in 2001, where it was played over the Norman designed Gold Course.[2]

In 2023, the PGA Tour replaced the QBE Shootout with the Grant Thornton Invitational, a 16-team event which features one male and one female pro golfer on each team.[3]

Format

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The Shootout was a 3-day, 54-hole stroke play event in which teams of two compete. The format since 2014 has been:[4]

  • First round: scramble, also known as ambrose or best-shot. Both players tee off on each hole; having decided which result is better, both play their next stroke from within a club-length of that position, but no closer to the hole. This procedure is repeated until the hole is finished.
  • Second round: greensomes, also known as modified alternate shot or Scotch foursomes. Both players tee off on each hole and the ball finishing in the better position is chosen; alternate strokes are then played to complete the hole, with the player who did not play the chosen ball from the tee taking the next stroke.
  • Final round: better ball, also known as best ball. Each golfer plays their own ball throughout, with the lower score being counted on each hole.

Broadcasting history

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The event was originally broadcast in the United States by the USA Network and CBS, with USA broadcasting the first round on a tape-delayed basis, and CBS handling the second round live – it was then a two-round tournament. Not all the country saw the final round live, as CBS's commitment to the NFL only allowed part of the country to see the round as it took place, with the rest of the U.S. seeing the event beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

In 2007, the event was moved to December, and was broadcast live by both Golf Channel and NBC. It remained on these networks through 2013. In 2014, weekend coverage moved to Fox, where Norman had become an analyst. The telecast served as a prelude to Fox's coverage of the 2015 U.S. Open.[5] In 2017, weekend coverage returned to NBC.

Winners

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Year Winners Score To par Margin of
victory
Runners-up
QBE Shootout
2022   Tom Hoge and
  Sahith Theegala
182 −34 1 stroke   Charley Hoffman and
  Ryan Palmer
2021   Jason Kokrak and
  Kevin Na
183 −33 1 stroke   Sam Burns and
  Billy Horschel
2020   Harris English (3) and
  Matt Kuchar (3)
179 −37 9 strokes   Rory Sabbatini and
  Kevin Tway
2019   Rory Sabbatini and
  Kevin Tway
185 −31 2 strokes   Jason Kokrak and
  J. T. Poston
2018   Brian Harman and
  Patton Kizzire
186 −30 1 stroke   Emiliano Grillo and
  Graeme McDowell
2017   Sean O'Hair (2) and
  Steve Stricker (2)
190 −26 2 strokes   Shane Lowry and
  Graeme McDowell
Franklin Templeton Shootout
2016   Harris English (2) and
  Matt Kuchar (2)
188 −28 1 stroke   Jerry Kelly and
  Steve Stricker
2015   Jason Dufner and
  Brandt Snedeker
186 −30 2 strokes   Harris English and
  Matt Kuchar
2014   Jason Day and
  Cameron Tringale
184 −32 1 stroke   Harris English and
  Matt Kuchar
2013   Harris English and
  Matt Kuchar
182 −34 7 strokes   Retief Goosen and
  Freddie Jacobson
2012   Sean O'Hair and
  Kenny Perry (3)
185 −31 1 stroke   Charles Howell III and
  Rory Sabbatini
2011   Keegan Bradley and
  Brendan Steele
184 −32 3 strokes   Mark Calcavecchia and
  Nick Price
  Rory Sabbatini and
  Jhonattan Vegas
Shark Shootout
2010   Dustin Johnson and
  Ian Poulter
186 −30 2 strokes   Darren Clarke and
  Graeme McDowell
2009   Jerry Kelly and
  Steve Stricker
190 −26 1 stroke   Chad Campbell and
  Tim Clark
  J. B. Holmes and
  Kenny Perry
  Justin Leonard and
  Scott Verplank
Merrill Lynch Shootout
2008   Scott Hoch and
  Kenny Perry (2)
185 −31 2 strokes   J. B. Holmes and
  Boo Weekley
2007   Woody Austin and
  Mark Calcavecchia (2)
187 −29 1 stroke   Greg Norman and
  Bubba Watson
2006   Jerry Kelly and
  Rod Pampling
185 −31 Playoff   Justin Leonard and
  Scott Verplank
Franklin Templeton Shootout
2005   John Huston and
  Kenny Perry
186 −30 1 stroke   Fred Couples and
  Adam Scott
2004   Hank Kuehne (2) and
  Jeff Sluman (2)
187 −29 2 strokes   Steve Flesch and
  Justin Leonard
2003   Hank Kuehne and
  Jeff Sluman
193 −23 Playoff   Chad Campbell and
  Shaun Micheel
  Brad Faxon and
  Scott McCarron
2002   Lee Janzen and
  Rocco Mediate
185 −31 1 stroke   David Gossett and
  Matt Kuchar
  John Huston and
  Jeff Maggert
2001   Brad Faxon (3) and
  Scott McCarron (3)
183 −33 2 strokes   John Daly and
  Frank Lickliter
2000   Brad Faxon (2) and
  Scott McCarron (2)
190 −26 Playoff   Carlos Franco and
  Scott Hoch
Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout
1999   Fred Couples (3) and
  David Duval
184 −32 6 strokes   Scott Hoch and
  Scott McCarron
1998   Steve Elkington (3) and
  Greg Norman
189 −27 Playoff   John Cook and
  Peter Jacobsen
1997   Bruce Lietzke and
  Scott McCarron
186 −30 2 strokes   David Duval and
  Scott Hoch
1996   Jay Haas and
  Tom Kite (2)
187 −29 2 strokes   Hale Irwin and
  Lee Janzen
  Craig Stadler and
  Lanny Wadkins
1995   Mark Calcavecchia and
  Steve Elkington (2)
184 −32 1 stroke   Chip Beck and
  Lee Janzen
Franklin Funds Shark Shootout
1994   Fred Couples (2) and
  Brad Faxon
190 −26 2 strokes   Mark O'Meara and
  Curtis Strange
1993   Steve Elkington and
  Raymond Floyd (2)
188 −28 1 stroke   Mark Calcavecchia and
  Brad Faxon
  Hale Irwin and
  Bruce Lietzke
  Tom Kite and
  Davis Love III
  Mark O'Meara and
  Curtis Strange
1992   Tom Kite and
  Davis Love III
191 −25 1 stroke   Billy Ray Brown and
  Nick Price
  Fred Couples and
  Raymond Floyd
  Hale Irwin and
  Bruce Lietzke
Shark Shootout benefiting RMCC
1991   Tom Purtzer and
  Lanny Wadkins
189 −27 4 strokes   Jack Nicklaus and
  Greg Norman
RMCC Invitational
1990   Fred Couples and
  Raymond Floyd
182 −34 5 strokes   Peter Jacobsen and
  Arnold Palmer
1989   Mark O'Meara and
  Curtis Strange
190 −26 6 strokes   Bernhard Langer and
  John Mahaffey
  Lanny Wadkins and
  Tom Weiskopf

References

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  1. ^ "QBE signs on as title sponsor for QBE Shootout". SponsorPitch.
  2. ^ "QBE Shootout".
  3. ^ Schlabach, Mark (February 22, 2023). "Mixed event for PGA, LPGA tours features 16 teams, $4M purse". ESPN.
  4. ^ "Silly-season event adjusts format". ESPN. October 28, 2014.
  5. ^ Handel, Craig (December 10, 2014). "Fox set for golf debut at new-look Franklin Templeton Shootout". Star Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
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26°14′53″N 81°45′54″W / 26.248°N 81.765°W / 26.248; -81.765