Thunderbird Invitational

The Thunderbird Invitational was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played from 1952 to 1959 in Rancho Mirage, California.[2][3][4] 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.[5][6]

Thunderbird Invitational
Tournament information
LocationRancho Mirage, California
Established1953
Course(s)Thunderbird Country Club
Par71
Length6,680 yards (6,110 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$15,000
Month playedJanuary
Final year1959
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Arnold Palmer (1959)
To par−20 Fred Haas (1954)
Final champion
United States Arnold Palmer
Location Map
Thunderbird CC is located in the United States
Thunderbird CC
Thunderbird CC
Location in the United States
Thunderbird CC is located in California
Thunderbird CC
Thunderbird CC
Location in California

Arnold Palmer, 29, was the event's final champion in 1959;[1][4] 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.[7]

Ken Venturi, 26, won the 1958 event and was awarded a $1,500 check and a $4,500 automobile.[8] He backed it up with another win the following week at Phoenix.[9]

Jimmy Demaret won the event three times; his first was a 54-hole midweek event in 1953,[10][11] and the last was an 18-hole playoff on Monday in 1957 for consecutive titles.[12][13]

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.[14][15]

Winners
YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)		Ref.
1959United States Arnold Palmer266−183 strokesUnited States Jimmy Demaret
United States Ken Venturi		1,500[1][4]
1958United States Ken Venturi269−154 strokesUnited States Jimmy Demaret
United States Gene Littler		1,500[8]
1957United States Jimmy Demaret (3)273−11PlayoffUnited States Mike Souchak
United States Ken Venturi		2,000[12][13]
1956United States Jimmy Demaret (2)269−151 strokeUnited States Cary Middlecoff2,000[16]
1955United States Shelley Mayfield270−18PlayoffUnited States Fred Haas
United States Mike Souchak		2,000[17]
1954United States Fred Haas268−202 strokesUnited States Marty Furgol
United States Chandler Harper
United States Bo Wininger		2,000[3]
1953United States Jimmy Demaret201−152 strokesUnited States Ben Hogan
United States Lloyd Mangrum
United States Jim Turnesa		1,500[10][11]

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.

References
  1. "Palmer wins Thunderbird on 62 for 266". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. January 26, 1959. p. 3, part 4.
  2. Spicer, Judd (December 28, 2010). "Before the Hope". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  3. "Fred Haas wins". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. February 1, 1954. p. 2B.
  4. "Palmer victor in Thunderbird". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 26, 1959. p. 2B.
  5. "Ryder Cup kept by U.S.; Briton tops Middlecoff". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 7, 1955. p. 10.
  6. "U.S. retains Ryder Cup golf trophy by 8-4". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 7, 1955. p. 26.
  7. "Palmer wins title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 8, 1960. p. 3B.
  8. "Ken Venturi 'Bird winner". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 27, 1958. p. 3B.
  9. "Venturi, finishes strong, takes Phoenix golf crown". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. February 3, 1958. p. 2B.
  10. "Demaret wins at Thunderbird". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. January 22, 1953. p. 2B.
  11. "Prize goes to Demaret". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). Associated Press. January 22, 1953. p. 8.
  12. "Souchak holes 40-foot putt for Thunderbird triple tie". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 28, 1957. p. 10.
  13. "Demaret wins golf playoff". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 29, 1957. p. 3B.
  14. "Ferrier leading at Palm Springs". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). Associated Press. January 22, 1952. p. 8.
  15. "Harrison takes top money in California golf". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. January 23, 1952. p. 3, sec. 3.
  16. "Thunderbird tourney won by Demaret". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 30, 1956. p. 3B.
  17. "Mayfield wins golf playoff on extra hole". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. February 1, 1955. p. 2, sec. 3.

33.756°N 116.43°W / 33.756; -116.43

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