Thunderbird Invitational – Wikipedia

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Golf tournament

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]

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[edit]

Playoffs[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b c “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. ^ a b “Fred Haas wins”. Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. February 1, 1954. p. 2B.
  4. ^ a b c “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. ^ a b “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. ^ a b “Demaret wins at Thunderbird”. Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). United Press. January 22, 1953. p. 2B.
  11. ^ a b “Prize goes to Demaret”. Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). Associated Press. January 22, 1953. p. 8.
  12. ^ a b “Souchak holes 40-foot putt for Thunderbird triple tie”. Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 28, 1957. p. 10.
  13. ^ a b “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.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 33°45′22″N 116°25′48″W / 33.756°N 116.43°W / 33.756; -116.43