Buick Open

Last updated
Buick Open
Tournament information
Location Grand Blanc, Michigan
Established1958
Course(s) Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club
Par72
Length7,085 yards (6,479 m)
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund US$5,100,000
Month playedJuly/August
Final year2009
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Robert Wrenn (1987)
To par−26 as above
Final champion
Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods
Location map
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Icona golf.svg
Warwick Hills G&CC
Location in the United States
Relief map of USA Michigan.png
Icona golf.svg
Warwick Hills G&CC
Location in Michigan

The Buick Open was a PGA Tour golf tournament from 1958 to 2009. In 2007, the tournament was held at the end of June, a change from its traditional spot between The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Regardless, many prominent players used it as a "tune-up" for the subsequent major.

Contents

For the event's first decade, the Buick Open Invitational was played at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. After 1969, professional golf events in the area fell off the PGA Tour schedule and a series of pro-ams and other similarly unofficial events took place, mostly at Flint Golf Club in Flint, Michigan.

Flint native, and PGA touring professional Larry Mancour had returned to Michigan to play in the Buick Open and stayed to build the Grand Blanc Golf Club. He then added nine holes at the Flint Elks Golf Club where he remained the professional for 20 years. He rescued the Buick Open when General Motors dropped sponsorship of the tournament. With local Buick dealers Mancour started the Little Buick Open in 1969. It drew players and fans and led to the rebirth of the Buick Open in 1977.

The Buick Open officially made its return to the PGA Tour in 1977 at the Flint Elks Club, and in 1978 the event returned to Warwick Hills G&CC, where it remained until its demise.

The Associated Press reported July 28, 2009, that General Motors would end its sponsorship of the Buick Open after the 2009 tournament, in order to devote its marketing resources to cars and trucks. [1] The PGA Tour replaced the tournament with the Greenbrier Classic at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. [2]

As in the 1970s, a series of pro-ams and other unofficial events now take place in Grand Blanc, with the AJGA's Randy Wise Open taking place at Warwick Hills and most pro-ams and a golf festival at the Jewel of Grand Blanc (the former Grand Blanc Golf Club).

In 2014, an unrelated tournament with the same name was started in China. The event is played on PGA Tour China.

In 2018, the former General Motors financing arm, now Ally Bank, returned to Warwick Hills to sponsor a PGA Tour Champions event, The Ally Challenge. Jim Furyk (2003, 2020) and Vijay Singh (2004, 2005, 2023) have won both events.

Long hitters

In its final years, the tournament was dominated by long hitters. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Brian Bateman, and Kenny Perry combined for eight wins in its final nine years. Several other players ranked highly in driving distance finished second during that span, including Woods, Jason Gore, Geoff Ogilvy, Bubba Watson, and John Daly. [3]

Winners

YearTour [lower-alpha 1] WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)
Buick Open
2009 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods (3)268−203 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Chalmers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Senden
Flag of the United States.svg Roland Thatcher
918,000
2008 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Perry (2)269−191 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Woody Austin
Flag of the United States.svg Bubba Watson
900,000
2007 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Brian Bateman 273−151 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Woody Austin
Flag of the United States.svg Jason Gore
Flag of the United States.svg Justin Leonard
882,000
2006 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods (2)264−243 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Jim Furyk 864,000
2005 PGAT Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh (3)264−244 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Zach Johnson
Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods
828,000
2004 PGAT Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh (2)265−231 stroke Flag of the United States.svg John Daly 810,000
2003 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Jim Furyk 267−212 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Briny Baird
Flag of the United States.svg Chris DiMarco
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Ogilvy
Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods
720,000
2002 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods 271−174 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Fred Funk
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gay
Flag of the United States.svg Mark O'Meara
Flag of Mexico.svg Esteban Toledo
594,000
2001 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Perry 263−252 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Chris DiMarco
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Furyk
558,000
2000 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Rocco Mediate 268−201 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Chris Perry 486,000
1999 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tom Pernice Jr. 270−181 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Tom Lehman
Flag of the United States.svg Ted Tryba
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Tway
432,000
1998 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Billy Mayfair 271−172 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Scott Verplank 324,000
1997 PGAT Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh 273−154 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Tom Byrum
Flag of the United States.svg Russ Cochran
Flag of South Africa.svg Ernie Els
Flag of the United States.svg Brad Fabel
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Naomichi Ozaki
Flag of the United States.svg Curtis Strange
270,000
1996 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Justin Leonard 266−225 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Chip Beck 216,000
1995 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Woody Austin 270−18Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Mike Brisky 216,000
1994 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Fred Couples 270−182 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Corey Pavin 198,000
1993 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Larry Mize 272−161 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Fuzzy Zoeller 180,000
1992 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Dan Forsman 276−12Playoff Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Elkington
Flag of the United States.svg Brad Faxon
180,000
1991 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Brad Faxon 271−17Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Chip Beck 180,000
1990 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Chip Beck 272−161 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Mike Donald
Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin
Flag of the United States.svg Fuzzy Zoeller
180,000
1989 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Leonard Thompson 273−151 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Billy Andrade
Flag of the United States.svg Payne Stewart
Flag of the United States.svg Doug Tewell
180,000
1988 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Scott Verplank 268−202 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Doug Tewell 126,000
1987 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Robert Wrenn 262−267 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dan Pohl 108,000
1986 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Ben Crenshaw 270−181 stroke Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead
Flag of the United States.svg Doug Tewell
90,000
1985 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Ken Green 268−204 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Grady 81,000
1984 PGAT Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Denis Watson 271−171 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Payne Stewart 72,000
1983 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Levi 272−161 stroke Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Isao Aoki
Flag of the United States.svg Calvin Peete
63,000
1982 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Lanny Wadkins 273−151 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Tom Kite 63,000
1981 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Hale Irwin 277−11Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Clampett
Flag of the United States.svg Peter Jacobsen
Flag of the United States.svg Gil Morgan
63,000
Buick-Goodwrench Open
1980 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Peter Jacobsen 276−121 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Billy Kratzert
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Lye
45,000
1979 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg John Fought 280−8Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jim Simons 27,000
1978 PGAT Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Newton 280−8Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Mike Sullivan 20,000
Buick Open
1977 PGAT Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Cole 271−171 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Fred Marti 20,000
1976 Flag of the United States.svg Ed Sabo 279−9Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Randy Erskine 12,000
1975 Flag of the United States.svg Spike Kelley 208−81 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Randy Erskine
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Marshall
Flag of the United States.svg Mike McCullough
4,200
Flint Elks Open
1974 Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Abbott 136−8Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Joe Porter 2,000
Lake Michigan Classic
1973 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Wilf Homenuik 215−1Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jim Ferriell 3,200
Vern Parsell Buick Open
1972 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Groh 273−152 strokes Flag of the United States.svg John Mahaffey 4,000
Buick Open Invitational
1970–1971: No tournament
1969 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Dave Hill 277−112 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Frank Beard 25,000
1968 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tom Weiskopf 280−81 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Mike Hill 25,000
1967 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Julius Boros (2)283−53 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Bob Goalby
Flag of the United States.svg R. H. Sikes
Flag of the United States.svg Bert Yancey
20,000
1966 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Phil Rodgers 284−42 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Pott
Flag of the United States.svg Kermit Zarley
20,000
1965 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tony Lema (2)280−82 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Pott 20,000
1964 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Tony Lema 277−111 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Dow Finsterwald 8,000
1963 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Julius Boros 274−145 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dow Finsterwald 9,000
1962 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Bill Collins 284−41 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Dave Ragan 9,000
1961 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Jack Burke Jr. 284−4Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Billy Casper
Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Pott
9,000
1960 PGAT Flag of the United States.svg Mike Souchak 282−61 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Gay Brewer
Flag of the United States.svg Art Wall Jr.
9,000
1959 PGAT Flag of the United States (1959-1960).svg Art Wall Jr. 282−6Playoff Flag of the United States (1959-1960).svg Dow Finsterwald 9,000
1958 PGAT Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Casper 285−31 stroke Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Kroll
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Arnold Palmer
9,000

Notes

  1. PGAT − PGA Tour.

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References

  1. "AP Source: GM to End Sponsorship of Buick Open". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-07-28.[ dead link ] (Defunct prior to 7/10)
  2. "Greenbrier Classic Announcement". Bloomberg. 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  3. "Buick Open Winners". Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2008-06-23.