Northern Trust Open
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | Pacific Palisades, California |
Established | 1926, 90 years ago |
Course(s) | Riviera Country Club |
Par | 71 |
Length | 7,322 yards (6,695 m)[1][2] |
Organized by |
Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | $6.8 million |
Month played | February |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 264 Lanny Wadkins (1985) |
To par | −20 Lanny Wadkins (1985) |
Current champion | |
Bubba Watson |
The Genesis Open, is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, first played in 1926. Formerly known as the Northern Trust Open, Nissan Open, and originally known as the Los Angeles Open, it is played annually in February in Pacific Palisades, California. The tournament has been contested at the Riviera Country Club on a near-continuous basis since 1973. Hyundai Motor Group, based in South Korea, takes over sponsorship for the first time, after nine seasons from Northern Trust Corporation, based in Chicago, following a 21-year sponsorship by Nissan. Entertainer Glen Campbell was the celebrity host of the Los Angeles Open from 1971 to 1983.
History
Prior to World War II, the event led a nomadic existence in southern California, moving from course to course. The inaugural event 90 years ago in 1926 was played at Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles; in 1927 the event moved to El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana for the only time. In 1928, the event moved again to Wilshire Country Club, also in Los Angeles, and 1929 and 1930 saw the event's first foray to Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades before returning again to Los Angeles for the next decade. From 1931–33, the event alternated between Wilshire CC and Hillcrest Country Club, before returning to Los Angeles CC from 1934–36. From 1937–39, the event was played at Griffith Park before returning to Los Angeles CC in 1940. Babe Zaharias played in the 1938 event, being the first woman to play in a professional golf tournament for men.
In 1941, the event returned to Riviera CC and in 1942 was played again at Hillcrest CC before World War II intervened.
The event started up again in 1944 at Wilshire CC before spending the next 9 years (1945–53) at Riviera CC, which also hosted the U.S. Open in June 1948, won by Ben Hogan in a record score. In 1954, the event was played at Fox Hills Country Club on land that is now in Culver City and in 1955 moved to Inglewood Country Club. From 1956–72, the event returned to Los Angeles, being played at Rancho Park Golf Course, with the exception of 1968, which was at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena.
In 1973, the event began its current relationship with Riviera CC, where it has been played every year since, except in years where it hosts majors (1983, Men's PGA Championship and 1998, U.S. Senior Open). In an effort to preserve the course, the 1983 event was played at Rancho Park Golf Course, and the 1998 event was contested at Valencia Country Club. In 1995, Riviera hosted the tour event in February and the PGA Championship in August. Although Riviera is slated to host a major golf championship in 2017 (U.S. Amateur Championship), the course will host the Genesis Open in 2017.[3]
In 1992, the Nissan Los Angeles Open at Riviera CC was the site of Tiger Woods' first PGA Tour event as an amateur player, as a 16-year-old high school sophomore.
The 2001 event was only the second time that a six-player playoff was needed in PGA Tour history to determine the tournament winner. Robert Allenby won the playoff ahead of Toshi Izawa, Brandel Chamblee, Bob Tway, Jeff Sluman and Dennis Paulson.[4]
In 2005, the tournament was shortened by 36 holes due to rain. Adam Scott defeated Chad Campbell on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff on a Monday. Due to the event's length, this win is counted as unofficial for Scott.
In 2007, Rich Beem made a hole-in-one at the 14th hole on Saturday to win a new red Altima coupe, which he immediately ascended, embraced, and sat atop of in triumph. The sequence was later made into a Nissan commercial. (video) Beem credited Peter Jacobsen for inspiring his reaction; Jacobsen aced the same hole thirteen years earlier in 1994 then hopped into the nearby 300ZX convertible and pretended to drive it.[5][6][7]
In September 2007, it was originally announced that Bearing Point, a consulting firm based in McLean Virginia, would become the new title sponsor of the tournament. However, on October 15, 2007, Northern Trust became the title sponsor beginning in February 2008.
The five-year agreement, which extended through the 2012 event, was announced October 15, 2007, by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and William A. Osborn, Chairman and CEO of Northern Trust Corporation.[8] The tournament is currently known as the Northern Trust Open, and the new partnership marks the beginning of a process of transformation for this high-profile tournament. As part of the initial move to enhance the tournament, the Northern Trust Open increased its purse to $6.2 million in 2008, an increase of $1 million over 2007. Additionally, the tournament pro-am will go from four amateurs to three per group. After the initial 5-year agreement, it was extended 4 years to cover Northern Trust's partnership through the 2016 event.
Phil Mickelson won the 2008 tournament and successfully defended the title in 2009 with a 1-stroke victory over Steve Stricker. In 2010, Stricker came back to win the Northern Trust Open and secure his ranking of the number two player in the world. In 2016, Bubba Watson won the tournament for a second time in three years, seeing off Adam Scott and Jason Kokrak to win by one shot with a 15-under-par total.[9]
Northern Trust Open Exemption
In 2009, the Northern Trust Open created an exemption for a player who represents the advancement of diversity in golf. The 2009 exemption was called the Charlie Sifford Exemption, in honor of pioneering black golfer and 1969 tournament winner Charlie Sifford.[10] While the first six recipients were of African-American descent, the 2015 exemption went to PGA Tour rookie Carlos Sainz, Jr., of Filipino and Bolivian descent;[11] and the 2016 recipient, J. J. Spaun, is also of Filipino descent.[12]
Year | Player | Result |
---|---|---|
2009 | Vincent Johnson[10] | Cut |
2010 | Joshua Wooding | Cut |
2011 | Joseph Bramlett | Cut |
2012 | Andy Walker | Cut |
2013 | Jeremiah Wooding | T42 |
2014 | Harold Varner III | T70 |
2015 | Carlos Sainz, Jr.[11] | Cut |
2016 | J. J. Spaun[12] | Cut |
2016 course layout
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yards | 503 | 471 | 434 | 236 | 434 | 199 | 408 | 433 | 458 | 3,576 | 315 | 583 | 479 | 459 | 192 | 487 | 166 | 590 | 475 | 3,746 | 7,322 |
Par | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
Winners
*Rain-shortened to 54 holes
^Rain-shortened to 36 holes; unofficial win
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Main sources[46][47][48]
Multiple winners
Sixteen men have won this tournament more than once through 2016.
- 4 wins
- Macdonald Smith: 1928, 1929, 1932, 1934
- Lloyd Mangrum: 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956
- 3 wins
- Ben Hogan: 1942, 1947, 1948 - (Hogan also won the 1948 U.S. Open, played at Riviera)
- Arnold Palmer: 1963, 1966, 1967
- 2 wins
- Harry Cooper: 1926, 1937
- Sam Snead: 1945, 1950
- Paul Harney: 1964, 1965
- Billy Casper: 1968, 1970
- Tom Watson: 1980, 1982
- Gil Morgan: 1978, 1983
- Lanny Wadkins: 1979, 1985
- Fred Couples: 1990, 1992
- Corey Pavin: 1994, 1995
- Mike Weir: 2003, 2004
- Phil Mickelson: 2008, 2009
- Bubba Watson: 2014, 2016
References
- 1 2 "Northern Trust Open Course". PGA Tour. 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- 1 2 "2016 PGA Hole Statistics - Northern Trust Open". ESPN. February 21, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Pavin repeats in Nissan". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Associated Press. February 27, 1995. p. D-2.
- ↑ Kelley, Brent. "Largest Sudden-Death Playoffs". About.com. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
- ↑ "An Interview with Rich Beem" (PDF). Sports Transcripts.com. February 17, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Rich Beem - profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Beem may be '1' to watch again". Los Angeles Times. February 18, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Northern Trust Press Release". Retrieved November 12, 2007.
- ↑ Inglis, Martin (February 22, 2016). "Bubba Watson still 'mad' despite win". bunkered.
- 1 2 "Oregon State Beavers Graduate Receives the First Sifford Exemption". ESPN. February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- 1 2 "Sainz earns 2015 Northern Trust exemption". PGA Tour. January 19, 2015.
- 1 2 "J.J. Spaun earns 2016 Northern Trust Open Exemption". PGA Tour. January 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Ford Wins LA Open". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. Associated Press. January 8, 1957. p. 9. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Mangrum Sets Course Mark In Los Angeles Tournament". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. Associated Press. January 10, 1956. p. 12. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Gene Littler Winner of Los Angeles Golf". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 10, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ↑ "Fred Wampler Wins Los Angeles Open". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Associated Press. January 12, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Lloyd Mangrum Winner In Los Angeles Open". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. January 6, 1953. p. 6. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Bolt Cops L.A. Open Playoff". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Associated Press. January 9, 1952. p. 5. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Mangrun Wins Golf Tourney At Los Angeles". The Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. United Press. January 9, 1951. p. 8. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Snead Victor in Golf Playoff; He Praises Hogan". The Owosso Argus-Press. Owosso, Michigan. Associated Press. January 19, 1950. p. 16. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Mangrum Wins First 1949 Event". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 11, 1949. p. 14. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Ben Hogan Captures $10,000 Los Angeles Open Meet". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. January 6, 1948. p. 6. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Hogan Worries Over Shoulder". Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. January 7, 1947. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Lord Byron Nelson Wins Los Angeles Open the First Time". The Owosso Argus-Press. Owosso, Michigan. Associated Press. January 8, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Sam Snead with 283 Wins Los Angeles Open". The Florence Times. Florence, Alabama. Associated Press. January 9, 1945. p. 5. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Jug McSpaden Adds Another Golf Prize". The Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Associated Press. January 11, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Hogan Is Favorite In Los Angeles Open". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 9, 1942. p. 32. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Wee Ben Hogan's Deadly Putter Cuts Down Jimmy Thomson to Capture Play-Off Of Los Angeles Open Meet". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. January 14, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Bulla Wins Los Angeles Open Tourney". Toledo Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press. January 7, 1941. p. 14. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Lawson Little Wins Tourney". The Owosso Argus-Press. Owosso, Michigan. Associated Press. January 9, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Jimmy Demaret Takes Top Prize Los Angeles Open". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. January 7, 1939. p. 9. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Jimmy Thomson Wins In Open Golf Tourney". The Gazette. Montreal, Canada. Associated Press. January 11, 1938. p. 11. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Cooper Captures Los Angeles Open". The Spartanburg Herald. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press. January 12, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Hines Captures Los Angeles Open". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Associated Press. January 13, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Ghezzi Wins Golf Title". The Gazette. Montreal, Canada. January 16, 1935. p. 16. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ In 1935, Vic Ghezzi and Johnny Revolta split first and second place money after both finished at 285, Ghezzi won the 18-hole playoff
- ↑ "Mac Smith Wins In Los Angeles Open". The Gazette. Montreal, Canada. Associated Press. January 8, 1934. p. 11. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Another Rich Winter Golf Prize For Wood". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. January 10, 1933. p. 12. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Mac Smith Wins Los Angeles Open; Never Loses Lead". Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida. United Press. January 10, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Dudley's Finish Wins Golf Title L' Angeles Open". Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida. United Press. January 13, 1931. p. 4. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Denny Shute Wins Rich Los Angeles Open Tourney". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 15, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "MacDonald Smith Again Wins Los Angeles Open". The Miami Daily News. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. January 14, 1929. p. 11. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Mac Smith Is Los Angeles Open Winner". The Miami Daily News. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. January 9, 1928. p. 9. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Cruickshank Wins Prize". Reno Evening Gazette. Reno, Nevada. Associated Press. January 10, 1927. p. 1.
- ↑ "Texas Golfer Wins Tourney". Nevada State Journal. Reno, Nevada. Associated Press. January 11, 1926. p. 2.
- ↑ Northern Trust Open – Past Champions – at www.northerntrustopen.com
- ↑ Northern Trust Open – Winners - at golfobserver.com (1970+)
- ↑ Johnson, Sal; Seanor, Dave, eds. (2009). The USA Today Golfers Encyclopedia. New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60239-302-8. (for 1960-69)
External links
Coordinates: 34°03′00″N 118°30′05″W / 34.0500°N 118.5015°W