Western Open

American professional golf tournament
the former LPGA major

The Western Open was a professional golf tournament in the United States, for most of its history an event on the PGA Tour. The tournament's founding in 1899 actually pre dated the start of the Tour, which is generally dated from 1916, the year the PGA of America was founded. The Western Open, organized by the Western Golf Association, was first played in September 1899 at the Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois the week preceding the U. S. Open. At the time of its final edition in 2006, it was the third oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after The Open (1860) and U. S. Open (1895). The tournament was held a total of 103 times over the course of 108 years. The event was not held in 1900, 1918 (World War I), and 1943–45 (World War II). Players from the U. S. won the tournament 77 times, followed by Scotland with fifteen wins. Walter Hagen had the most victories with five, and seventeen others won the event at least twice. The champions' list includes two amateurs: Chick Evans in 1910 and Scott Verplank in 1985. Beginning in 2007, the Western Open was renamed the BMW Championship, the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup playoff series. Played with the PGA Tour's point system as the sole qualification standard, it is no longer open to amateurs. Title sponsorship was introduced in 1987, and included Beatrice, Centel, Sprint, Motorola, Advil, Golf Digest, and Cialis.

The Western Open, founded and run by the Western Golf Association, was first played in 1899 in Illinois at the Glen View Club in Golf, a northern suburb of Chicago Like the U. S. Open, in its early days it was almost exclusively won by immigrant golf professionals from the British Isles, most of whom gained full citizenship to the United States. In its early decades it was widely regarded as one of the premier golf tournaments in the USA, along with other notables of the day like the North and South Open, the PGA Championship and the Shawnee Open. The Western Golf Association was, in some ways, and for some years, something of a rival to the United States Golf Association, especially in the midwestern and western sections of the country. From the event's inception through 1961, it was played at a variety of midwestern locations, as well as places such as Arizona (Phoenix), Utah (Salt Lake City) and California (San Francisco, Los Angeles). In 1923, it was held in Tennessee at the Colonial Country Club in Memphis. It moved in 1991 to Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, southwest of Chicago. A 72 hole public complex, its Dubsdread Course hosted the Western Open for sixteen editions, through 2006. Also struck at other parts of the course were Bobby Nichols, Jim Ahern, and Tony Jacklin.

In 2007, the Western Open was renamed—and changed in terms of invitational criteria—to the BMW Championship, part of the four event FedEx Cup Playoff Series. The Western Golf Association continues to run the tournament. The BMW Championship is the last FedEx Cup playoff event before The Tour Championship

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s) upVenueLocationCialis Western Open 2006 Trevor Immelman 271 −13 2 strokes Mathew Goggin Tiger Woods Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 2005 Jim Furyk 270 −14 2 strokes Tiger Woods Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 2004 Stephen Ames 274 −10 2 strokes Steve Lowery Cog Hill Lemont, IllinoisWestern Open 2003 Tiger Woods (3) 267 −21 5 strokes Rich Beem Cog Hill Lemont, IllinoisAdvil Western Open 2002 Jerry Kelly 269 −19 2 strokes Davis Love III Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 2001 Scott Hoch 267 −21 1 stroke Davis Love III Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 2000 Robert Allenby 274 −14 Playoff Nick Price Cog Hill Lemont, IllinoisMotorola Western Open 1999 Tiger Woods (2) 273 −15 3 strokes Mike Weir Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1998 Joe Durant 271 −17 2 strokes Vijay Singh Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1997 Tiger Woods 275 −13 3 strokes Frank Nobilo Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1996 Steve Stricker 270 −18 8 strokes Billy Andrade Jay Don Blake Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1995 Billy Mayfair 279 −9 1 stroke Jay Haas Justin Leonard Jeff Maggert Scott Simpson Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1994 Nick Price (2) 277 −11 1 stroke Greg Kraft Cog Hill Lemont, IllinoisSprint Western Open 1993 Nick Price 269 −19 5 strokes Greg Norman Cog Hill Lemont, IllinoisCentel Western Open 1992 Ben Crenshaw 276 −12 1 stroke Greg Norman Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1991 Russ Cochran 275 −13 2 strokes Greg Norman Cog Hill Lemont, Illinois 1990 Wayne Levi 275 −13 4 strokes Payne Stewart Butler National Oak Brook, IllinoisBeatrice Western Open 1989 Mark McCumber (2) 275 −13 Playoff Peter Jacobsen Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1988 Jim Benepe 278 −10 1 stroke Peter Jacobsen Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1987 D. A. Weibring 207 −9 1 stroke Larry Nelson Greg Norman Butler National Oak Brook, IllinoisWestern Open 1986 Tom Kite 286 −2 Playoff Fred Couples David Frost Nick Price Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1985 Scott Verplank (a) 279 −9 Playoff Jim Thorpe Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1984 Tom Watson (3) 280 −8 Playoff Greg Norman Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1983 Mark McCumber 284 −4 1 stroke Tom Watson Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1982 Tom Weiskopf 276 −12 1 stroke Larry Nelson Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1981 Ed Fiori 277 −11 4 strokes Jim Colbert Greg Powers Jim Simons Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1980 Scott Simpson 281 −7 5 strokes Andy Bean Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1979 Larry Nelson 286 −2 Playoff Ben Crenshaw Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1978 Andy Bean 282 −6 Playoff Bill Rogers Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1977 Tom Watson (2) 283 −5 1 stroke Wally Armstrong Johnny Miller Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1976 Al Geiberger 288 +4 1 stroke Joe Porter Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1975 Hale Irwin 283 −1 1 stroke Bobby Cole Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1974 Tom Watson 287 +3 2 strokes J. C. Snead Tom Weiskopf Butler National Oak Brook, Illinois 1973 Billy Casper (4) 272 −12 1 stroke Larry Hinson Hale Irwin Midlothian Midlothian, Illinois 1972 Jim Jamieson 271 −13 6 strokes Labron Harris Jr. Sunset Ridge Northfield, Illinois 1971 Bruce Crampton 279 −5 2 strokes Bobby Nichols Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois 1970 Hugh Royer Jr. 273 −11 1 stroke Dale Douglass Beverly Chicago, Illinois 1969 Billy Casper (3) 276 −8 4 strokes Rocky Thompson Midlothian Midlothian, Illinois 1968 Jack Nicklaus (2) 273 −11 3 strokes Miller Barber Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois 1967 Jack Nicklaus 274 −10 2 strokes Doug Sanders Beverly Chicago, Illinois 1966 Billy Casper (2) 283 −1 3 strokes Gay Brewer Medinah Medinah, Illinois 1965 Billy Casper 270 −14 2 strokes Jack McGowan Chi Chi Rodríguez Tam O'Shanter Niles, Illinois 1964 Chi Chi Rodríguez 268 −16 1 stroke Arnold Palmer Tam O'Shanter Niles, Illinois 1963 Arnold Palmer (2) 280 −4 Playoff Julius Boros Jack Nicklaus Beverly Chicago, Illinois 1962 Jacky Cupit 281 −3 2 strokes Billy Casper Medinah Medinah, Illinois 1961 Arnold Palmer 271 −13 2 strokes Sam Snead Blythefield Belmont, Michigan 1960 Stan Leonard 278 −10 Playoff Art Wall Jr. Western Redford, Michigan 1959 Mike Souchak 272 −8 1 stroke Arnold Palmer Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1958 Doug Sanders 275 −13 1 stroke Dow Finsterwald Red Run Royal Oak, Michigan 1957 Doug Ford 279 −5 Playoff George Bayer Gene Littler Billy Maxwell Plum Hollow Southfield, Michigan 1956 Mike Fetchick 284 −4 Playoff Doug Ford Jay Hebert Don January Presidio San Francisco, California 1955 Cary Middlecoff 272 −16 2 strokes Mike Souchak Portland Portland, Oregon 1954 Lloyd Mangrum (2) 277 −7 Playoff Ted Kroll Kenwood Cincinnati, Ohio 1953 Dutch Harrison 278 −2 4 strokes Ed Furgol Fred Haas Lloyd Mangrum Bellerive Saint Louis, Missouri 1952 Lloyd Mangrum 274 −6 8 strokes Bobby Locke Westwood Saint Louis, Missouri 1951 Marty Furgol 270 −10 1 stroke Cary Middlecoff Davenport Pleasant Valley, Iowa 1950 Sam Snead (2) 282 −2 1 stroke Jim Ferrier Dutch Harrison Brentwood Los Angeles, California 1949 Sam Snead 268 −20 4 strokes Cary Middlecoff Keller Saint Paul, Minnesota 1948 Ben Hogan (2) 281 −7 Playoff Ed Oliver Brookfield Clarence, New York 1947 Johnny Palmer 270 −18 1 stroke Bobby Locke Ed Oliver Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, Utah 1946 Ben Hogan 271 −17 4 strokes Lloyd Mangrum Sunset Saint Louis, Missouri1943–1945: No tournament due to World War II 1942 Herman Barron 276 −8 2 strokes Henry Picard Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona 1941 Ed Oliver 275 −9 3 strokes Ben Hogan Byron Nelson Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona 1940 Jimmy Demaret 293 +9 Playoff Toney Penna River Oaks Houston, Texas 1939 Byron Nelson 281 −2 1 stroke Lloyd Mangrum Medinah Medinah, Illinois 1938 Ralph Guldahl (3) 279 −5 7 strokes Sam Snead Westwood Saint Louis, Missouri 1937 Ralph Guldahl (2) 288 E Playoff Horton Smith Canterbury Beachwood, Ohio 1936 Ralph Guldahl 274 −10 3 strokes Ray Mangrum Davenport Pleasant Valley, Iowa 1935 Johnny Revolta 290 +6 4 strokes Willie Goggin South Bend South Bend, Indiana 1934 Harry Cooper 274 −14 Playoff Ky Laffoon Country Club of Peoria Peoria Heights, Illinois 1933 Macdonald Smith (3) 282 E 6 strokes Tommy Armour Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois 1932 Walter Hagen (5) 287 −1 1 stroke Olin Dutra Canterbury Beachwood, Ohio 1931 Ed Dudley 280 −4 4 strokes Walter Hagen Miami Valley Dayton, Ohio 1930 Gene Sarazen 278 −10 7 strokes Al Espinosa Indianwood Lake Orion, Michigan 1929 Tommy Armour 273 −7 8 strokes Horton Smith Ozaukee Mequon, Wisconsin 1928 Abe Espinosa 291 +3 3 strokes Johnny Farrell North Shore Glenview, Illinois 1927 Walter Hagen (4) 281 −1 4 strokes Al Espinosa Bill Mehlhorn Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois 1926 Walter Hagen (3) 279 −1 9 strokes Harry Cooper Gene Sarazen Highland Indianapolis, Indiana 1925 Macdonald Smith (2) 281 −7 6 strokes Leo Diegel Johnny Farrell Emmet French Walter Hagen Bill Mehlhorn Youngstown Youngstown, Ohio 1924 Bill Mehlhorn 293 +5 8 strokes Al Watrous Calumet Homewood, Illinois 1923 Jock Hutchison (2) 281 −3 6 strokes Bobby Cruickshank Leo Diegel Walter Hagen Joe Kirkwood, Sr. Colonial Cordova, Tennessee 1922 Mike Brady 291 +3 10 strokes Laurie Ayton, Snr Jock Hutchison Oakland Hills Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 1921 Walter Hagen (2) 287 +3 5 strokes Jock Hutchison Oakwood Cleveland Heights, Ohio 1920 Jock Hutchison 296 +4 1 stroke Jim Barnes Clarence Hackney Harry Hampton Olympia Fields Olympia Fields, Illinois 1919 Jim Barnes (3) 283 +3 3 strokes Leo Diegel Mayfield Lyndhurst, Ohio1918: No tournament due to World War I 1917 Jim Barnes (2) 283 −5 2 strokes Walter Hagen Westmoreland Wilmette, Illinois 1916 Walter Hagen 286 −2 1 stroke Jock Hutchison George Sargent Blue Mound Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1915 Tom McNamara 304 +4 2 strokes Alex Cunningham Glen Oak Glen Ellyn, Illinois 1914 Jim Barnes 293 −3 1 stroke Willie Kidd Interlachen Edina, Minnesota 1913 John McDermott 295 −1 7 strokes Mike Brady Memphis Memphis, Tennessee 1912 Macdonald Smith 299 +11 3 strokes Alex Robertson Idlewild Flossmoor, Illinois 1911 Bobby Simpson (2) 2 and 1 Tom McNamara Kent Grand Rapids, Michigan 1910 Chick Evans (a) 6 and 5 George Simpson Beverly Chicago, Illinois 1909 Willie Anderson (4) 288 9 strokes Stewart Gardner Skokie Glencoe, Illinois 1908 Willie Anderson (3) 299 1 stroke Fred McLeod Normandie Saint Louis, Missouri 1907 Bobby Simpson 307 2 strokes Willie Anderson Fred McLeod Hinsdale Clarendon Hills, Illinois 1906 Alex Smith (2) 306 3 strokes Jack Hobens Homewood Flossmoor, Illinois 1905 Arthur Smith 278 2 strokes James Maiden Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 1904 Willie Anderson (2) 304 4 strokes Alex Smith Kent Grand Rapids, Michigan 1903 Alex Smith 318 2 strokes Laurie Auchterlonie David Brown Milwaukee River Hills, Wisconsin 1902 Willie Anderson 299 5 strokes Willie Smith Bert Way Euclid Cleveland Heights, Ohio 1901 Laurie Auchterlonie 160 2 strokes David Bell Midlthian Midlothian, Illinois1900: No tournament 1899 Willie Smith 156 Playoff Laurie Auchterlonie Glen View Golf, Illinois