Thunderbird Invitational
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The Thunderbird Invitational was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played from 1952 to 1959 in Rancho Mirage, California. Held in late January at Thunderbird Country Club, the tournament's purse was a modest $15,000; it was the direct predecessor of the Desert Classic, which began in 1960. Thunderbird hosted the Ryder Cup in 1955.
Arnold Palmer, 29, was the event's final champion in 1959; he won the next year at the first edition of the "Palm Springs Desert Classic," which had a $100,000 purse and a winner's share of 12,000, his largest tour check to date.
Ken Venturi, 26, won the 1958 event and was awarded a $1,500 check and a $4,500 automobile. He backed it up with another win the following week at Phoenix.
Jimmy Demaret won the event three times; his first was a 54-hole midweek event in 1953, and the last was an 18-hole playoff on Monday in 1957 for consecutive titles.
The 1952 event was a 36 hole pro-am, played midweek. Dutch Harrison won the best-ball while Jim Ferrier and Cary Middlecoff had the best professional scores.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | United States Arnold Palmer | 266 | −18 | 3 strokes | United States Jimmy Demaret United States Ken Venturi | 1,500 | |
| 1958 | United States Ken Venturi | 269 | −15 | 4 strokes | United States Jimmy Demaret United States Gene Littler | 1,500 | |
| 1957 | United States Jimmy Demaret (3) | 273 | −11 | Playoff | United States Mike Souchak United States Ken Venturi | 2,000 | |
| 1956 | United States Jimmy Demaret (2) | 269 | −15 | 1 stroke | United States Cary Middlecoff | 2,000 | |
| 1955 | United States Shelley Mayfield | 270 | −18 | Playoff | United States Fred Haas United States Mike Souchak | 2,000 | |
| 1954 | United States Fred Haas | 268 | −20 | 2 strokes | United States Marty Furgol United States Chandler Harper United States Bo Wininger | 2,000 | |
| 1953 | United States Jimmy Demaret | 201 | −15 | 2 strokes | United States Ben Hogan United States Lloyd Mangrum United States Jim Turnesa | 1,500 |
Playoffs
In 1953 it was over 54 holes, midweek. In 1955 Mayfield won with a birdie on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff. Mayfield and Souchak scored 69, Haas 70. In 1957 Demaret won after an 18-hole playoff, scoring 67, Souchak scored 75 and Venturi 76.
External links
- – history
33°45′22″N 116°25′48″W/33.756°N 116.43°W/ 33.756; -116.43