Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf

The Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar is a golf tournament in Missouri on the PGA Tour Champions. Since 2014, it has been played at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale on the par-3 Top of the Rock course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and the 18-hole Buffalo Ridge course, redesigned by Tom Fazio. The tournament is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, which owns the Big Cedar Lodge.[1] It is often called "The tournament that launched the Champions Tour". Starting in 2018, a second Par-3 course, Mountain Top, a 13-hole course designed by Gary Player, will be added to the tournament, which has the oddity of being a 67-hole tournament.

Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf
at Big Cedar
Tournament information
LocationRidgedale, Missouri, U.S.
Established1978
Course(s)Buffalo Ridge Golf Course
Top of the Rock
Par71 (BR)
39 (MT)
27 (TR)
Length6,963 yards (6,367 m) (BR)
1,912 yards (1,748 m) (MT)
2,659 yards (2,431 m) (TR)
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
(since 2002)
FormatStroke play – no cut
67 holes (age 50–65)
58 holes (over 65)
Prize fund$1.8 million
Month playedApril
Current champion
United States Scott Hoch and United States Tom Pernice Jr.
Ridgedale is located in the United States
Ridgedale
Ridgedale
Location in the United States
Ridgedale is located in Missouri
Ridgedale
Ridgedale
Location in Missouri

From 1978 until 2012, it was known as the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. Prior to Big Cedar Lodge, it was played in Savannah, Georgia, at The Club at Savannah Harbor. Liberty Mutual was the main sponsor of the tournament.

It currently consists of two separate events using four-ball and alternate shot formats with two-man teams: the 67-hole Champions Division (age 50–65) and the 58-hole Legends Division (age 65+) (on the final day of the tournament, held at Top of the Rock, Legends play the course once, while Champions play the course twice). Only the Champions Division event is an official money/official victory event.[2]

For 2002 to 2013, it consisted of three separate events: the Legends Division is a 54-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 50, the Raphael Division is a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men age 50–69, and the Demaret Division is a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 70. Only the Legends Division event was an official money/official victory event.[3]

From 2014 until 2016, the tournament was held over 54 holes, one round at Buffalo Ridge, and four nine-hole rounds at Top of the Rock. In 2017, because of weather that washed out play and made the full Buffalo Ridge course unplayable, all 36 (or 27) holes were played at Top of the Rock, the first time a PGA Tour event was held exclusively on a Par 3 course.

The tournament was founded in 1978 and consisted of a 72-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 50. Its success provided impetus for the formation of the Senior PGA Tour in 1980. In 1987, a Legendary Division was added. This consisted of a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 60. These teams also competed in the Legends Division - Charles Coody & Dale Douglass won both divisions in 1998. In 1993, the 36-hole Demaret Division (named after tournament co-founder Jimmy Demaret) was added for men over 70. For this year alone, all three divisions were competed at individual stroke play. In 2002 the Legends Division became an individual stroke play event and became an official money event on the Champions Tour. This format remained through 2007. The Legendary Division was renamed the Raphael Division (after tournament co-founder Fred Raphael who had died in 2001) and became the 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 60.

The purse for the 2019 tournament was $1.8 million, with $171,000 going to each member of the winning team.

Tournament hosts

The tournament has been played in several different locations since its founding.

YearsCourseCity
2014–2019Big Cedar LodgeRidgedale, Missouri
2003–2013The Club at Savannah HarborSavannah, Georgia
1999–2002World Golf Village (King & Bear courses)St. Augustine, Florida
1998Summer Beach Golf ResortAmelia Island, Florida
1995–1997PGA West (Stadium Course)La Quinta, California
1990–1994Barton Creek Conference CenterAustin, Texas
1978–1989Onion Creek Country ClubAustin, Texas

Team winners

Champions Tour event (Legends Division 2002–2013, Champions Division 2014– )
Unofficial money event (Raphael Division 2002–2013, Demaret Division 2002–2013, Legends Division 2014–2017)
YearChampions Division (50–65)Legends Division (65+)
2020No tournament
2019Scott Hoch & Tom Pernice Jr.
2018Paul Broadhurst & Kirk Triplett
2017Carlos Franco & Vijay SinghAllen Doyle & Hubert Green
2016Michael Allen & Woody AustinBruce Fleisher & Larry Nelson
2015Billy Andrade & Joe DurantBruce Fleisher & Larry Nelson
2014Fred Funk & Jeff SlumanJim Colbert & Jim Thorpe
YearLegends Division (over 50's)Raphael Division (50–69)Demaret Division (over 70's)
2013Brad Faxon & Jeff SlumanIan Baker-Finch & Bart BryantJim Colbert & Bob Murphy
2012Michael Allen & David FrostMark James & Des SmythGibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead
2011Mark McNulty & David EgerMark James & Des SmythGibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead
2010Mark O'Meara & Nick PriceJohn Bland & Graham MarshGary Player & Bob Charles
2009Bernhard Langer & Tom LehmanGary Koch & Roger MaltbieGary Player & Bob Charles
2008Andy North & Tom WatsonGary Koch & Roger MaltbieAl Geiberger & Jimmy Powell
2007Jay HaasAndy North & Tom WatsonButch Baird & Bobby Nichols
2006Jay HaasAndy North & Tom WatsonOrville Moody & Jimmy Powell
2005Des SmythAndy North & Tom WatsonOrville Moody & Jimmy Powell
2004Hale IrwinBob Charles & Stewart GinnDon January & Gene Littler
2003Bruce LietzkeGary Koch & Roger MaltbieMiller Barber & Jim Ferree
2002Doug TewellBruce Lietzke & Bill RogersMiller Barber & Jim Ferree
Unofficial money event (1978–2001)
YearLegends Division (over 50's)Legendary Division (over 60's)Demaret Division (over 70's)
2001Jim Colbert & Andy NorthJim Albus & Simon HobdayDon January & Gene Littler
2000Jim Colbert & Andy NorthMike Hill & Lee TrevinoJoe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford
1999Hubert Green & Gil MorganOrville Moody & Jimmy PowellJoe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford
1998Charles Coody & Dale DouglassCharles Coody & Dale DouglassJoe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford
1997John Bland & Graham MarshDon January & Gene LittlerGeorge Bayer & Jim Ferree
1996Mike Hill & Lee TrevinoOrville Moody & Jimmy PowellDoug Ford & Art Wall Jr.
1995Mike Hill & Lee TrevinoOrville Moody & Jimmy PowellTommy Bolt & Jack Fleck
1994Charles Coody & Dale DouglassDon January & Gene LittlerAl Balding & Jay Hebert
1992Mike Hill & Lee TrevinoMike Fetchick & Bob Toski
1991Mike Hill & Lee TrevinoRoberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford
1990Charles Coody & Dale DouglassMike Fetchick & Bob Toski
1989Al Geiberger & Harold HenningRoberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford
1988Bruce Crampton & Orville MoodyRoberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford
1987Bruce Crampton & Orville MoodyJerry Barber & Doug Ford
1986Don January & Gene Littler
1985Don January & Gene Littler
1984Gay Brewer & Billy Casper
1983Roberto De Vicenzo & Rod Funseth
1982Don January & Sam Snead
1981Gene Littler & Bob Rosburg
1980Tommy Bolt & Art Wall Jr.
1979Julius Boros & Roberto De Vicenzo
1978Gardner Dickinson & Sam Snead

Individual winners

YearWinnerTournamentMargin of victoryRunner-up
1993Harold HenningLegends of Golf Legends DivisionPlayoffDon January, Tom Weiskopf
1993Don JanuaryLegends of Golf Legendary Division2 strokesRoberto De Vicenzo, Gay Brewer
1993Jerry BarberLegends of Golf Demaret Division10 strokesKel Nagle

Multiple winners

The following teams have won multiple times through 2017:

TeamTotalLegends/ChampionsRaphael/LegendsDemaret
Don January & Gene Littler6222
Mike Hill & Lee Trevino541
Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell532
Andy North & Tom Watson413
Charles Coody & Dale Douglass321
Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford33
Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie33
Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford33
Jim Colbert & Andy North22
Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody22
John Bland & Graham Marsh211
Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski22
Mark James & Des Smyth22
Miller Barber & Jim Ferree22
Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead22
Gary Player & Bob Charles22
Larry Nelson & Bruce Fleisher22

The following individuals have won multiple times (as part of a team or individually) through 2017:

PlayerTotalLegends/ChampionsRaphael/LegendsDemaret
Don January8332
Gene Littler7322
Orville Moody7232
Andy North633
Jimmy Powell633
Charlie Sifford633
Mike Hill541
Lee Trevino541
Roberto De Vicenzo523
Charles Coody431
Dale Douglass431
Jim Colbert4211
Tom Watson413
Des Smyth312
Gary Koch33
Roger Maltbie33
Bob Charles312
Jim Ferree33
Joe Jimenez33
Michael Allen22
Bruce Crampton22
Jay Haas22
Harold Henning22
Jeff Sluman22
Sam Snead22
John Bland211
Hubert Green211
Bruce Lietzke211
Graham Marsh211
Tommy Bolt211
Al Geiberger211
Art Wall Jr.211
Mike Fetchick22
Mark James22
Bob Toski22
Jerry Barber211
Doug Ford211
Miller Barber22
Gibby Gilbert22
Gary Player22
J. C. Snead22

References

  1. "Par-3 course to host historic event". PGA Tour. February 25, 2014.
  2. Kupelian, Vartan (June 2, 2014). "Power Rankings: Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf". PGA Tour.
  3. "Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf to Return to Team Format". PGA Tour. December 3, 2007. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007.

36.5757°N 93.1940°W / 36.5757; -93.1940

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