Buick Invitational
Encyclopedia
The Farmers Insurance Open is a PGA Tour
professional golf
tournament played in the San Diego, California
area in the early part of the Tour season, known as the "West Coast Swing." The tournament was noted for having singer-actor Andy Williams
as a celebrity host from 1968 to 1988. The tournament originated as the San Diego Open and used that name in its title through 1985. Shearson Lehman Brothers were title sponsors from 1985 to 1992. Buick
was the main tournament sponsor from 1992 to 2009. Farmers Insurance Group is the main sponsor as of 2010. It is organized by the The Century Club of San Diego
.
before spending 1954 at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California
. In 1955 the event moved to Mission Valley Country Club in San Diego, California
, and after the 1956 event was played at Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon, California
, the event returned to Mission Valley CC until 1961. In 1962, Mission Valley CC changed its name to Stardust Country Club (and now is known as Riverwalk Golf Club) and the event stayed there from 1962–63; after spending 1964 at Rancho Bernardo Country Club (now Rancho Bernardo Inn) in San Diego, California
, it returned to Stardust CC until 1967.
In 1968, the event began its relationship with Torrey Pines Golf Course
in La Jolla, California, where it has been played ever since. In the current tournament set-up, players will split the first 36 holes between the North and South Courses, then play the final 36 holes on the South Course. In 2008, Torrey Pines-South hosted the U.S. Open
.
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament played in the San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
area in the early part of the Tour season, known as the "West Coast Swing." The tournament was noted for having singer-actor Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
as a celebrity host from 1968 to 1988. The tournament originated as the San Diego Open and used that name in its title through 1985. Shearson Lehman Brothers were title sponsors from 1985 to 1992. Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
was the main tournament sponsor from 1992 to 2009. Farmers Insurance Group is the main sponsor as of 2010. It is organized by the The Century Club of San Diego
The Century Club of San Diego
The Century Club of San Diego is a San Diego-based charitable organization, established in July 1961. They are the organizers of the annual Buick Invitational golf tournament, now the Farmers Insurance Open, an annual PGA tour event at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego solely for charitable...
.
Course history
From 1952–53, the tournament was played at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, CaliforniaChula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
before spending 1954 at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
. In 1955 the event moved to Mission Valley Country Club in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and after the 1956 event was played at Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
, the event returned to Mission Valley CC until 1961. In 1962, Mission Valley CC changed its name to Stardust Country Club (and now is known as Riverwalk Golf Club) and the event stayed there from 1962–63; after spending 1964 at Rancho Bernardo Country Club (now Rancho Bernardo Inn) in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, it returned to Stardust CC until 1967.
In 1968, the event began its relationship with Torrey Pines Golf Course
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Torrey Pines Golf Course is a municipal public golf course owned by the city of San Diego, California. It sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the community of La Jolla south of Torrey Pines State Reserve. It has two famous golf courses, the North Course and the South Course....
in La Jolla, California, where it has been played ever since. In the current tournament set-up, players will split the first 36 holes between the North and South Courses, then play the final 36 holes on the South Course. In 2008, Torrey Pines-South hosted the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
.
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | 1st Prize ($ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
Purse ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers Insurance Open | ||||||
| 2011 | Bubba Watson Bubba Watson Gerry "Bubba" Watson is an American professional golfer. Watson is one of the few left-handed golfers on tour and is known for his tremendous length. The longest driver on the PGA Tour, in 2007 he had an average drive of 315.2 yards and is capable of generating a ball speed of 194 mph, being... |
272 | -16 | 1,044,000 | 5,800,000 | |
| 2010 | Ben Crane Ben Crane Benjamin McCully Crane is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Crane was born in Portland, Oregon. He was age 5 when his grandfather taught him how to play golf, and he grew up playing at the nearby Portland Golf Club where Ben Hogan won the 1945 Portland Open... |
275 | -13 | 954,000 | 5,300,000 | |
| Buick Invitational | ||||||
| 2009 | Nick Watney Nick Watney Nicholas Alan Watney is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. The highlight of Watney's career to date is his victory at the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship.... |
277 | -11 | 954,000 | 5,300,000 | |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
269 | -19 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 | |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
273 | -15 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 | |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
278 | -10 | 918,000 | 5,100,000 | |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
272 | -16 | 864,000 | 4,800,000 | |
| 2004 | John Daly John Daly (golfer) John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.Daly is known primarily for his driving distance off the tee , his non-country club appearance and attitude, and his rough-and-tumble personal life. Daly remains one of the most popular and intriguing figures on the PGA Tour... |
278 | -10 | 864,000 | 4,800,000 | |
| 2003 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
272 | -16 | 810,000 | 4,500,000 | |
| 2002 | José María Olazábal José María Olazábal José María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:... |
275 | -13 | 648,000 | 3,600,000 | |
| 2001 | Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
269 | -19 | 630,000 | 3,500,000 | |
| 2000 | Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
270 | -18 | 540,000 | 3,000,000 | |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
266 | -22 | 486,000 | 2,700,000 | |
| 1998 | Scott Simpson Scott Simpson (golfer) Scott William Simpson is an American professional golfer.Simpson was born in San Diego, California. He attended the University of Southern California, where he was two-time medalist at the NCAA Championship . He turned professional in 1977 and graduated in 1978... |
204* | -12 | 378,000 | 2,100,000 | |
| 1997 | Mark O'Meara Mark O'Meara Mark Francis O'Meara is an American professional golfer who was a prolific tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s... |
275 | -13 | 270,000 | 1,500,000 | |
| 1996 | Davis Love | 269 | -19 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 | |
| Buick Invitational of California | ||||||
| 1995 | Peter Jacobsen Peter Jacobsen Peter Erling Jacobsen is an American professional golfer, who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. He has won seven events on the PGA Tour and two events on the Champions Tour, both majors.-Early years:... |
269 | -19 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 | |
| 1994 | Craig Stadler Craig Stadler Craig Robert Stadler is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.... |
268 | -20 | 198,000 | 1,100,000 | |
| 1993 | Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
278 | -10 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| 1992 | Steve Pate Steve Pate Stephen Robert Pate is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Pate was born in Ventura, California. He attended UCLA and was a member of the golf team; one teammate was Corey Pavin, who joined Pate on the PGA Tour. Pate helped lead the team to... |
200* | -16 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| Shearson Lehman Brothers Open | ||||||
| 1991 | Jay Don Blake Jay Don Blake Jay Don Blake is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour; he currently plays on the Champions Tour.... |
268 | -20 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| Shearson Lehman Hutton Open | ||||||
| 1990 | Dan Forsman Dan Forsman Daniel Bruce Forsman is an American professional golfer.-Early years:Forsman was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He grew up in northern California, where he learned to play golf at Los Altos Golf and Country Club. He attended Arizona State University.-Professional career:Forsman turned... |
275 | -13 | 162,000 | 900,000 | |
| 1989 | Greg Twiggs Greg Twiggs Gregory Wofford Twiggs is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Twiggs was born in Los Angeles and grew up in southern California. He attended San Diego State University where he was a member of the golf team, a first team All American his senior year... |
271 | -17 | 126,000 | 700,000 | |
| Shearson Lehman Hutton Andy Williams Open | ||||||
| 1988 | Steve Pate Steve Pate Stephen Robert Pate is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Pate was born in Ventura, California. He attended UCLA and was a member of the golf team; one teammate was Corey Pavin, who joined Pate on the PGA Tour. Pate helped lead the team to... |
269 | -19 | 117,000 | 650,000 | |
| Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open | ||||||
| 1987 | George Burns George Burns (golfer) George Francis Burns III is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the amateur and professional levels.... |
266 | -22 | 90,000 | 500,000 | |
| 1986 | Bob Tway Bob Tway Robert Raymond Tway IV is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including eight PGA Tour victories. He spent 25 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings in 1986-87.... |
204* | -12 | 81,000 | 450,000 | |
| Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1985 | Woody Blackburn Woody Blackburn Woody T. Blackburn is a former American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and 1980s.Blackburn was born in Pikeville, Kentucky. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Buster Bishop's Florida Gators men's golf team from... |
269 | -19 | 72,000 | 400,000 | |
| 1984 | Gary Koch Gary Koch Gary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :... |
272 | -16 | 72,000 | 400,000 | |
| 1983 | Gary Hallberg Gary Hallberg Gary George Hallberg is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour.... |
271 | -17 | 54,000 | 300,000 | |
| Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1982 | Johnny Miller Johnny Miller John Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf... |
270 | -18 | 54,000 | 300,000 | |
| 1981 | Bruce Lietzke Bruce Lietzke Bruce Alan Lietzke is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.Lietzke was born in Kansas City, Kansas... |
278 | -10 | 45,000 | 250,000 | |
| Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1980 | Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
275 | -13 | 45,000 | 250,000 | |
| 1979 | Fuzzy Zoeller Fuzzy Zoeller Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award.... |
282 | -6 | 45,000 | 250,000 | |
| 1978 | Jay Haas Jay Haas Jay Dean Haas is an American professional golfer.Haas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Wake Forest University and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the middle 1970s with Curtis Strange and Bob Byman that Golf World has called "the... |
278 | -10 | 40,000 | 200,000 | |
| 1977 | Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
269 | -19 | 36,000 | 180,000 | |
| 1976 | J. C. Snead | 272 | -16 | 36,000 | 180,000 | |
| 1975 | J. C. Snead | 279 | -9 | 34,000 | 170,000 | |
| 1974 | Bobby Nichols Bobby Nichols Robert Herman Nichols is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1964 PGA Championship.Nichols was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville and later played golf at Texas A&M University were his team won the Southwest Conference Championship... |
275 | -13 | 34,000 | 170,000 | |
| 1973 | Bob Dickson Bob Dickson Robert B. Dickson is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.Dickson was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. He was introduced to golf at the age of five by his father, Ben, a club pro/manager at the McAlester Country Club, and later club pro at the Muskogee... |
278 | -10 | 34,000 | 170,000 | |
| 1972 | Paul Harney Paul Harney Paul Harney was an American professional golfer and golf course owner who spent part of his career as a full-time PGA Tour player, but mostly was a club professional, part-time Tour player, and owner-operator of his own course.... |
275 | -13 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1971 | George Archer George Archer George William Archer was an American golfer who won twelve events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.Archer was born in San Francisco, California and was raised just south in the city of San Mateo... |
272 | -16 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1970 | Pete Brown Pete Brown (golfer) Pete Brown is an American professional golfer who is best known as the first African American to win a PGA Tour event.... |
275 | -13 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1969 | Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... |
284 | -4 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| 1968 | Tom Weiskopf Tom Weiskopf Thomas Daniel Weiskopf is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. His most successful decade was the 1970s, and he won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982. After winding down his tournament career, Weiskopf has become a noted golf course... |
273 | -15 | 30,000 | 150,000 | |
| San Diego Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1967 | Bob Goalby Bob Goalby Robert George Goalby is a former American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, who won the 1968 Masters Tournament, his lone major championship among 11 Tour wins achieved between 1958 and 1971.... |
269 | -15 | 13,200 | 71,000 | |
| 1966 | Billy Casper Billy Casper William Earl Casper, Jr. is an American professional golfer who was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s.-Early years:... |
268 | -16 | 5,800 | 45,000 | |
| 1965 | Wes Ellis Wes Ellis Wesley Ellis, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.... |
267 | -17 | 4,850 | 39,000 | |
| 1964 | Art Wall, Jr. Art Wall, Jr. Arthur Jonathan Wall, Jr. was an American golfer.Wall was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He attended Duke University, graduating in 1949 with a business degree.... |
274 | -6 | 4,300 | 30,000 | |
| 1963 | Gary Player Gary Player Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six... |
 South Africa |
270 | -14 | 3,500 | 25,000 |
| 1962 | Tommy Jacobs Tommy Jacobs Keith Thomas Jacobs, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course owner/operator who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour... |
277 | -7 | 3,500 | 25,000 | |
| 1961 | Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
271 | -13 | 2,800 | 22,500 | |
| 1960 | Mike Souchak Mike Souchak Michael Souchak was an American professional golfer who won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s, and played for the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.-Early years, college:... |
269 | -19 | 2,800 | 22,500 | |
| 1959 | Marty Furgol Marty Furgol Martin A. Furgol was an American professional golfer. He won five times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s. He played on the 1955 Ryder Cup team. He was born in New York Mills, New York and died in Florida... |
 United States |
274 | -14 | 2,800 | 20,000 |
| 1958 | No tournament - moved from November to January | |||||
| 1957 | Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
 United States |
271 | -17 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| Convair-San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1956 | Bob Rosburg Bob Rosburg Robert Reginald "Rossie" Rosburg was an American professional golfer who later became a sports color analyst for ABC television.-Early years, college:Rosburg was born in San Francisco, California... |
United States |
270 | -18 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| 1955 | Tommy Bolt Tommy Bolt Thomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana... |
United States |
274 | -14 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| San Diego Open | ||||||
| 1954 | Gene Littler Gene Littler Gene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years... (a) |
United States |
274 | -14 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| 1953 | Tommy Bolt Tommy Bolt Thomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana... |
United States |
274 | -14 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1952 | Ted Kroll | United States |
276 | -12 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1930-51 | No tournament | |||||
| 1929 | Leo Diegel | United States |
282 | -2 | 750 | 2,500 |
| 1928 | No tournament | |||||
| 1927 | Leo Diegel | United States |
214^ | 1,000 | 2,500 | |
- (a) - amateur
* rain-shortened to 54 holes^ scheduled 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources
Multiple winners
Seven players have won this tournament more than once through 2011.- 6 wins
- Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Tiger Woods
- 3 wins
- Phil MickelsonPhil MickelsonPhilip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
: 1993, 2000, 2001
- Phil Mickelson
- 2 wins
- Tommy BoltTommy BoltThomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana...
: 1953, 1955 - Arnold PalmerArnold PalmerArnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
: 1957, 1961 - Steve PateSteve PateStephen Robert Pate is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Pate was born in Ventura, California. He attended UCLA and was a member of the golf team; one teammate was Corey Pavin, who joined Pate on the PGA Tour. Pate helped lead the team to...
: 1988, 1992 - J. C. Snead: 1975, 1976
- Tom WatsonTom Watson (golfer)Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
: 1977, 1980
- Tommy Bolt
Records and trivia
- Tournament course record: Torrey Pines North Course - 61, Mark BrooksMark Brooks (golfer)Mark David Brooks is an American professional golfer.Brooks was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a three-time All-American as a member of the golf team. He turned professional in 1983.Brooks has seven wins on the PGA Tour, including one major,...
, 1990, and Brandt SnedekerBrandt SnedekerBrandt Snedeker is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Early years through College:Snedeker was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was introduced to golf by his maternal grandmother, who managed a golf course in Missouri...
, 2007; Torrey Pines South Course - 62, Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, 1999 - Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
is the only six-time winner of the tournament, and Phil MickelsonPhil MickelsonPhilip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
the only other golfer to win more than twice. - Hall of Famer Gene LittlerGene LittlerGene Alec Littler is an American professional golfer. Known for a solid temperament and nicknamed "Gene the Machine" for his smooth rhythmical swing, he once said that, "Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the best misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes."-Early years...
is the only golfer to have won the tournament as an amateur, doing so in 1954. Littler, a San Diego native, never won as a professional - although he was runner-up three times (1969, 1974, 1978). - One of the most memorable years in the tournament's history was 1982, when Johnny MillerJohnny MillerJohn Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf...
outdueled Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
to win by one stroke. - Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
(2005-08) won the tournament four straight years. J. C. Snead (1975-76) and Phil MickelsonPhil MickelsonPhilip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
(2000-01) won in back-to-back years. - In 1952, boxer Joe LouisJoe LouisJoseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
was invited to play in the San Diego Open on a sponsor's exemption, and became the first African American ever to play in this PGA Tour event.