The 1960's
It was only coincidental the Palm Springs Golf Classic was founded in 1960 -
what many believe was one of the most
important years in the history of the game of golf. It was also a
coincidence that the tournament's first winner was Arnold Palmer who, a few
months later, would put golf on the front page of America's sports pages,
earning forever the title "King".
Arnie didn't just win the first Classic - he dominated the field. His total
of 338 (22 under par) set a tournament record that would not be broken for
nearly 20 years. It was also the first of his eight victories in the 1960
season - Arnie's best-ever year as a professional.
But what made the year so important came in June of 1960 when Arnie shot a
final round 65 (including driving the first green at Cherry Hills) for one
of the most dramatic comebacks in the history of the U.S. Open. That
single 18-hole round catapulted golf into the top ranks of sports, created
the famous "Arnie's Army" and made Arnold Palmer a legend. Arnie won his
first Classic five months before he was crowned "King" with his dramatic
Open triumph.
Palmer continued to reign supreme at the Bob Hope Desert Classic during the
decade. He added victories in 1962 and 1968 with runner-up finishes in 1965
and 1966.
Arnie's performance was impressive - but Billy Casper, who some have dubbed
the "quiet great", nearly matched Palmer's accomplishments.
The Classic's early years determined the format and traditions which remain
to this day. Bob Rosburg is credited with creating the tournament's unique
five-day format played over four different courses. The founding courses
played were Thunderbird, Tamarisk, Bermuda Dunes and Indian Wells Country
Clubs. The tradition of the Classic Girls began in the event's early years,
with the earliest tournaments having a Classic Queen (Debbie Reynolds, Jane
Powell and Jill St. John were early title holders.)
From the start, the Classic attracted an unbelievable array of celebrities
to compete in the tournament's pro-am competition. Some of the early stars
are now legends: Bing Crosby, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Phil Harris,
Desi Arnaz, Ray Bolger and Hoagy Carmichael. Dwight Eisenhower was the first
former President to play in the tournament and of course, the biggest
celebrity of all, Bob Hope, played in the early years, added his name to the
tournament in 1965 and became the Classic's Chairman of the Board.
But the Classic's most extraordinary challenge was the fabulous $50,000
prize offered for a hole-in-one. Consider how tremendous that prize was:
Arnold Palmer won eight times in 1960 (including the U.S. Open) and his
total earnings for the year were $75,000.
For the first three years of the tournament, the Classic purchased an
insurance policy from Lloyd's of London for a hole-in-one payoff - and the
$50,000 was won in each of these years. Cigar-chomping Joe Campbell
accomplished the feat in 1960 on hole 5 at Tamarisk, followed by Don January
in 1961 on the 15th at Indian Wells and Dick Mayer in 1962 on the 2nd at
Tamarisk.
The combination of Arnie's victories and the hole-in-one bonanza was a
winning one. The Classic was televised for the first time in 1961, becoming
a pioneer in bringing the tournament's excitement into the living rooms of
golf fans around the country.
The 1960's was an exciting decade for golf - and the Bob Hope Desert Classic
was one of the prime factors for making the sport popular among the
general public.
The 1970's
Arnold Palmer's reign continued in the early 70s with two more Bob Hope
Classic victories, pushing his lifetime total to five. By the middle of the
decade, the Classic torch had been passed to Johnny Miller, who put his
indelible stamp on all desert tournaments.
Miller won back-to-back Classic titles in 1975 and 1976 and had six
consecutive top-four finishes beginning in 1972. His desert mastery also
included events at Phoenix and Tucson, and in the memorable year of 1975, he
made a clean sweep of the desert with victories in all three events. In a
space of only three years, Johnny Miller won seven desert tournaments,
including three consecutive Tucson titles.
Miller's dominance during the decade had its preview in 1973 when he was
locked in a three-way battle for the Classic title with Palmer and Jack
Nicklaus. Palmer won the title by a single stroke over Miller and
Nicklaus. Later that year, Miller shot his record-breaking 63 in the final
round to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Frank Sinatra made his Hope debut in 1972. Other stars of the era who
played often were Jack Benny, Andy Williams, Lawrence Welk, Sammy Davis,
Jr., Jackie Gleason and Dean Martin. Gerald Ford joined the field in 1977,
making him the second former president to play in the tournament.
Willie Mays, Joe Louis, Johnny Bench, Merlin Olsen, John McKay,
Maury Wills and Bear Bryant were among the sports world stars who teed it up
in the Classic during the 70s.
Barbara Eden was the first Classic Queen of the 70s, reigning over a court
that wore outfits with "Bob", "Hope" and "Classic" emblazoned across the
front. Other Classic Queens during the decade were Gloria Loring, Brucence
Smith, Linda Carter, Lexie Brockway and Terry Ann Browning. The last four
were also Miss World USA. Beginning in 1975 the Bob Hope Classic Girls
became the ambassadors of the Classic, as there was no longer a queen.
By this time, Bermuda Dunes, Indian Wells and La Quinta served as the host
courses on a rotating basis. Eldorado and Tamarisk rotated as the fourth
course in the lineup each year.
It didn't matter which courses were in the rotation. Johnny Miller played
all of them with extreme brilliance. Although there were many remarkable
Classic performances in the 1970's the era still belonged to Miller, who
crossed the barrier from a good player to a future Hall of Famer. It was
another golden era for golf - and it was led by golf's new golden boy.
The 1980's
The third decade of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic was a
period of significant change both for the tournament and the
PGA TOUR. These steps forward in the 1970's were largely
responsible for the tremendous success of the Classic and the TOUR in the
1980's.
For the Classic, the biggest step was the addition of Chrysler to the
tournament's name in 1985 as our title sponsor. The auto manufacturer had
been a major sponsor of the telecast for several years, but saw the
opportunity to further showcase their products through
this association.
These two changes had an immediate impact in the size of the Classic's
purse. In only nine years, the Classic's total purse had increased 228 per
cent.
Yet another significant change was the addition of a new course. PGA WEST
was added to the Classic's course rotation in 1987. The first year, the
Stadium Course was the host course, with the Palmer Course being utilized in
later years.
Beginning in the 1980's the depth of the tournament field was much stronger
than in previous years. Reflecting this new era of competitiveness, the
Classic had ten different winners in the '80's, the only decade in which
the tournament had no repeat winner.
There were significant accomplishments in the 1980's. Bruce Lietzke became
only the second man to lead from start to finish and a score of 25 under
par. The tournament mark would be tied the next two years before Lanny
Wadkins and Craig Stadler established the new mark at 333 (27 under par) in
1985.
The Classic did set a new standard, of sorts in the 1980's by becoming the
leader among all TOUR events for playoffs. In the eight tournaments from
1982 to 1989, six were decided in sudden death.
In the first playoff, Ed Fiori eliminated Tom Kite to take the title, while
the next year, Keith Fergus survived a playoff against Rex Caldwell. In
1984, the Classic's Silver Anniversary, John Mahaffey outlasted Jim Simons
on the second hole of sudden death.
The next year, the new tradition continued in one of the Classic's greatest
confrontations. Lanny Wadkins and Craig Stadler were deadlocked at the end
of regulation, with Wadkins prevailing on the fifth dramatic hole of sudden
death tie. It was high drama, including Stadler hitting from a bush on the
rocky hillside beside Indian Wells Country Club's 18 fairway.
Donnie Hammond was the winner the following year in the Classic's fifth
straight playoff. The 1980's saw more change and more drama than the
previous twenty years at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. But as they used to
say in vaudeville, "You ain't seen nothing yet."
The 1990's
The first three decades of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
produced incredible drama featuring the reigning stars of their eras. In
retrospect, however, those first thirty years served
as a warm-up to some of the most exciting golf played on
any Tour in the world.
Peter Jacobsen kicked off the 1990's with a popular, one-shot victory. His
win, however, was a prelude to the next three Classics, which were among the
most exciting in the tournament's history.
In 1991, birdies were raining everywhere, as three players broke the
tournament record. Corey Pavin, winner of the 1987 Classic, and Mark
O'Meara finished the regulation 90 holes at 29 under par. On the first
playoff hole, the 17th at Indian Wells Country Club, O'Meara appeared to
have a distinct advantage. Mark had a 20-foot birdie putt while Pavin was
in the rough with a difficult chip. That advantage disappeared when Pavin
holed the 40-foot chip, O'Meara missed and Pavin took his second Classic crown.
While 1991's playoff was exciting, the one in 1992 - probably was the most
exciting sudden death playoff in Classic history.
Five players finished tied in regulation (equalling the existing TOUR
record). John Cook, Gene Sauers, Rich Fehr, Tom Kite and Mark O'Meara teed
it up in overtime. Kite and O'Meara were eliminated on the first hole with
par fives. Fehr was the next to fall when both Cook and Sauers birdied the
second hole, Bermuda Dunes' par five 18th. Sauers seemed to have a sure
birdie - and probable win - locked up on the third playoff hole (Number One,
again), until Cook chipped in for birdie to send the playoff back to the
18th hole. Cook of Rancho Mirage then took the title when he chipped in for
eagle, finishing the four playoff holes in five under par!
While the 1993 Classic didn't have the customary playoff, it did feature one
of the most historic achievements in golf. Tom Kite, the reigning U.S. Open
champion, did the seemingly impossible. He finished 90 holes in 35 under
par, including a course record 62 in the final round at the challenging
Palmer Course at
PGA WEST. He broke the PGA TOUR's 90-hole record by six shots in a
performance for the ages.
The next three Classic were more conventional - with Scott Hoch, Kenny Perry
and Mark Brooks winning without playoffs. In 1997, another golfer would
achieve another incredible feat.
Mark Calcavecchia seemed to have the 1997 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in his
pocket. Going into the final round, he was three strokes better than John
Cook with a 72-hole tournament record of 26-under-par. Cook, however, had
moved up on Saturday with a brilliant 62 at Indian Wells. Playing head to
head on Sunday, Cook finally caught Calcavecchia on the 11th hole and
passed him on the 17th when Mark bogied.
With a closing birdie, Cook had fired a 63 in the final round - with his
consecutive rounds of 62 and 63 tying the PGA TOUR record. Cook had
accomplished the same feat the previous year, making him the only golfer to
ever have performed the feat twice.
Last year, one of the games biggest stars finally came through to win the
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Fred Couples always had played well at the
Classic. Going in to the 1998 tournament he had five straight Top Ten
finishes. Yet, he had never found the Classic's winner's circle.
Fred Couples did win the 1998 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic - but just barely.
He trailed Bruce Lietzke and Andrew Magee throughout the tournament until
the 90th hole, (the par 5, 18th hole of Bermuda Dunes) when he two-putted
for birdie from 25-feet to tie Lietzke, who missed an eight-foot putt that
would have won the title. The sudden death playoff - also on the 18th hole
- was almost a replay of regulation. Couples just over the green got up
and down for birdie, while Lietzke missed a 10-footer that would have
continued overtime. This year the Classic has a defending champion who is
one of the great players of our time.
The biggest single news event at the Classic during the '90's didn't even
involve the world's top professionals. In 1995, the team of President Bill
Clinton, President George Bush, President Gerald R. Ford, Tournament Host
Bob Hope and defending champion Scott Hoch teed it up for the tournament's
opening round (with the White House Press Corps and 25,000 fans following
behind). This historic day was the first time a sitting president had
played during a PGA TOUR event and perhaps the first time three presidents
had played together - ever.
Another huge development during the decade was the tremendous increase in
the tournament's purse. The decade began with a $1 million purse for the
1990 tournament. The purse had increased for six years until the 1998
tournament, when Fred Couples took home the lion's share of $2.3 million.
In 1999, the purse increases again - this time to $3 million with the winner
taking home $540,000.
The 2000's
Jesper Parnevik, the exciting Swede known for his colorful, retro attire, started things off right with his victory in the 2000 Classic. It marked only the second time a foreign-born golfer had won the tournament (Bruce Devlin in 1970 was the first).
Parnevik won the 2000 Classic in exciting fashion - never leading the tournament until the 90th and final hole. Jesper entered the final round two strokes back of Rory Sabbatini of South Africa, but a string of birdies tied him for the lead as he stood on the 18th tee. He stroked his second shot on the green and two-putted for birdie, the second putt from four feet. Sabbatini, needing birdie to tie, had tree trouble off the tee, then failed to make a 25-footer to match Parnevik at 331, 29 under par.
In the 2001 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Joe Durant emerged as the new star on TOUR. All the veteran pro did was break the Classic's 36-hole, 54-hole, 72-hole and 90-hole records. The latter two marks (72 holes, 29 under par and 90 holes, 36 under par) also were PGA TOUR records.
Durant's performance was so dominating the only major question to be answered during the final round was whether he could topple Tom Kite's 90-hole tournament and TOUR scoring mark of 35 under par. He waited until the 17th green to answer that question, rolling in a 12-foot putt to reach the magic 36 under mark. When he holed out on the final green, he had set a new record by a shot and had defeated Paul Stankowski by four shots and Mark Calcavecchia by six shots.
The 2002 Classic put the second ranked player in the world in the spotlight. Lefty Phil Mickelson was playing in his first tournament in five months, having chosen to spend time with his wife Amy during the birth of their second child. The press speculated whether his game was "rusty" or not.
Mickelson opened with a 64, which seemed to dispel doubts as to whether his game was sharp or not. He was content to stay in a pack of golfers close to the lead until late on the back nine in Sunday's final round. He birdied the last two holes to finish at 30 under par, which was later matched by David Berganio, Jr. Mickelson put the finishing touch on his starring role at the Classic when he tapped in a short putt for on a birdie on the first hole of the sudden death playoff.
In 2003, the Classic was won for the second straight year by a lefthander - Canada's Mike Weir, who many consider was playing like the top "lefty" early in the year. Following a disappointing 2002 season, Weir started the 2003 season like a lion. After a Top Ten finish in Phoenix, he quietly played himself into contention at the Classic during Sunday's back nine. Tim Herron had been leading by four shots starting the day, but a quadruple bogey eight at the 16th hole sank his chances.
After Weir rammed home a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, he was tied with veteran Jay Haas, with whom he was paired. Both drove in the fairway, with Weir laying up after his drive found a downhill lie to the par 5 final hole. Haas struck his iron shot slightly thin and it failed to carry the lake fronting the green by a couple of feet. Weir pitched to three feet, then stroked home the putt for a two-shot victory. He followed his Classic win with a victory in LA two weeks later - and took home the $500,000 bonus for winning the year's "West Coast Swing".
The Classics of the 2000's are proving once again that the stars come out to shine at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Don't miss the excitement of the 2004 Classic!
The Classics played in the new millennium have featured some of the greatest stars in the game of professional golf - but the most important event was the debut of the new course which has become the tournament's permanent home.
Jesper Parnevik, the exciting Swede known for his colorful attire, started things off right with his victory in the 2000 Classic. It marked only the second time a foreign-born golfer had won the tournament. And Parnevik won in exciting fashion, coming from behind for a one-stroke victory over Rory Sabbatini.
The 2001 tournament featured one of the most dominating performances in PGA TOUR history. Joe Durant's win that year was near perfection: in his four-shot win he set new Classic records for 36, 54, 72 and 90 holes, the latter two also TOUR records. He did it in style, birdying the final hole to beat Tom Kite's tournament mark by a shot.
One of the game's top stars asserted his mastery at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2002. Phil Mickelson, playing after a five-month layoff, opened with a 64, then stayed close to the lead all week. He shot to the top of the leaderboard on the back nine on Sunday, finished 90 holes in a tie with David Berganio, Jr., then won his first Classic title with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
The following year began the unique connection of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and The Masters Tournament. Canadian Mike Weir, who was coming off a subpar season the year before, came out hot in 2003. Near the lead all week, he birdied the 17th hole on Sunday to tie playing partner Jay Haas for the lead, then won the title on the final hole with a birdie. Weir would later go on to winner in Los Angeles and The Masters that season.
Phil Mickelson's win in 2004 marked the third-straight year a lefthander had won the Classic. When he added The Masters Tournament later that season, it marked the second straight time the Classic winner had accomplished the Classic/Masters feat. As opposed to his previous victory, Mickelson was on or near the lead for the entire tournament, finishing in a tie with Skip Kendall after 90 holes (and winning outright for the second time in three years with a birdie on the first hole of sudden death.
Another of the game's stars scored big in the 2005 Classic. British Open champion Justin Leonard had steady play the first 72 holes of that year's event - then when windy conditions, much like in his home state of Texas, vexed most of the field, Leonard came through with an easy victory. He fired a final-round 67 to win by three shots over Tim Clark and 72-hole leader Joe Ogilvie.
The biggest news of the 2006 Classic was the premiere of the tournament's home course - The Classic Club. The Arnold Palmer-designed layout offered the sternest test of golf in the tournament's 47-year history and at over 7,300 yards was the longest course ever played in the event.
The course played very tough, although Jesper Parnevik's round of 62 at The Classic Club on Saturday was one of the finest rounds in the Classic's history. Winning the inaugural tournament at The Classic Club was Ryder Cupper Chad Campbell, who took over the lead in the second round and never looked back, winning by three shots over Parnevik and and Scott Verplank.
The 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic was hosted for the first time by comedian George Lopez and brought a star-studded celebrity field. The event also saw very difficult conditions for the players: record cold temperatures and high winds. The winds blew especially hard on Sunday, when the field averaged 74.763 strokes per round, the highest final round scoring in the Classic's 48-year history. After 90 holes, Charley Hoffman and John Rollins finished tied, with Southern Californian native Hoffman winning the title on the first hole of sudden death. It was Hoffman's first victory while playing in his first-ever Classic, the only other player accomplishing that feat being Arnold Palmer in the very first event.
Former champion Justin Leonard appeared to have the 2008 Classic "in the bag". With only 9 holes remaining, he had a four-shot lead. Yet someone did roar past him, thanks to Leonard's 39 on the back nine. And the winner was D. J. Trahan, who shot a final round 65 to best Leonard by three strokes. The biggest reason for Trahan's win: his putting.In 2007 he ranked 171st in putting on TOUR. At the 2008 Classic, he led the field in putting thanks to a tip from an amateur back home in Georgia.
Come help us celebrate 51 years of one of golf's greatest events when the Golden Anniversary week kicks off January 18, 2010.
