# Chapter 3: Tournaments

Golf · Chapter 3: Tournaments · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/golf/interesting-facts/chapter-3-tournaments/)

Tournaments beyond the majors: the Players, Pebble Beach, Phoenix, Bay Hill and the Memorial, Europe's and the Pacific's classic events, amateur and senior golf, unusual formats and college golf.

## 3.31 The Players Championship

The PGA Tour's flagship event: its start, its move to Sawgrass, its island green and its records.

### Test 1: The Players Championship

- He won it again in 1976 and 1978. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- It had moved around Atlanta, Fort Worth and Ponte Vedra before. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- Pete Dye's wife and design partner. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history; Golf Digest, Pete and Alice Dye)
- Nobody had defended the title before. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- The South Korean won by three shots. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- It was 24 under par. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- Its field is among the strongest of the year. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- 1974, 1982, 1994 and 2024. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- 1984, 2001, 2017 and 2023. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)
- Pete Dye and Deane Beman went in first. (Source: PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Championship history)

## 3.32 The Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Bing Crosby's tournament: the Clambake, the famous amateurs and the five-time winners.

### Test 1: The Pebble Beach Pro-Am

- For decades it was simply 'the Crosby'. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- Near San Diego; it moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1947. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- The event was cut to 18 holes by rain. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- His quest became a running story on TV. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- Murray's first win in years of trying. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- It was cancelled after storms flooded the courses. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- O'Meara from 1985 to 1997, Mickelson from 1998 to 2019. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- 1937, 1947, 1986 and 1996. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- 2000, 2011 and 2024. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)
- Crosby's party for players and friends. (Source: PGA Tour, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am history)

## 3.33 The Phoenix Open

The loudest week in golf: the Coliseum, the aces on the 16th and the crowds.

### Test 1: The Phoenix Open

- Grandstands enclose the whole par 3. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- He was in his first full season as a pro. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- Phoenix volunteers who give the money to charity. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- The course had to be cleared before play went on. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- It draws the biggest crowds in golf. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- The record stood until 2017. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- He beat Cantlay in a play-off. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- 1997, 2001, 2013 and 2022. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- Sponsors came in 2004 and 2010; WM since 2022. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)
- Tens of thousands fill the stands each day. (Source: PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open history; The Thunderbirds)

## 3.34 Bay Hill and the Memorial

The events of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus: Bay Hill, Muirfield Village and their traditions.

### Test 1: Bay Hill and the Memorial

- Palmer owned the club. (Source: PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer Invitational history)
- It began as the Bay Hill Citrus Classic. (Source: PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer Invitational history)
- One of his eight wins there. (Source: PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer Invitational history)
- He won the Open there in 1966. (Source: The Memorial Tournament, history and honorees)
- A past great is honoured every year. (Source: The Memorial Tournament, history and honorees)
- He beat Irwin in a play-off. (Source: The Memorial Tournament, history and honorees)
- A suburb of Columbus, where Nicklaus grew up. (Source: The Memorial Tournament, history and honorees)
- Two, five and eight. (Source: PGA Tour, tournament history and media guide, Tiger Woods record)
- 1976, 1979, 2008 and 2017. (Source: PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer Invitational history; The Memorial Tournament, history and honorees)
- A tribute to Palmer, who died in 2016. (Source: PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer Invitational history)

## 3.35 Europe's Classic Events

Wentworth, the World Match Play, the old national opens and the Alpine Masters.

### Test 1: Europe's classic events

- For its length and toughness. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, BMW PGA Championship; Wentworth Club)
- An invitation match-play event in the autumn. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, World Match Play Championship)
- Between 1994 and 2007. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, World Match Play Championship)
- He beat Coles in the final. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, World Match Play Championship)
- Arnaud Massy won the first Open de France. (Source: Fédération française de golf, Open de France history)
- Pros and amateurs play one round on each. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship)
- High in the Alps above the Rhône valley. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, Omega European Masters)
- 1906, 1912, 1927 and 2001. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history)
- Two, five and seven. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, World Match Play Championship)
- Played at about 1,500 metres. (Source: DP World Tour, tournament history, Omega European Masters)

## 3.36 Asia and Australia's Events

The old national opens of the Pacific, their trophies and their record winners.

### Test 1: Asia and Australia's events

- Given since the 1920s. (Source: Golf Australia, Australian Open history)
- From 1958 to 1974. (Source: Golf Australia, Australian Open history)
- At The Australian Golf Club in Sydney. (Source: Golf Australia, Australian Open history)
- Played in Miyazaki each November. (Source: Japan Golf Tour Organization, Dunlop Phoenix history)
- Huge crowds came to see him. (Source: PGA of Australia, Australian Masters history)
- The Hong Kong Golf Club's home since 1911. (Source: Hong Kong Golf Club; Asian Tour, Hong Kong Open)
- Between 1950 and 1971. (Source: New Zealand Golf, New Zealand Open history)
- 1904, 1907, 1927 and 1959. (Source: Golf Australia, Australian Open history; New Zealand Golf; Japan Golf Association; Asian Tour)
- 1958, 1964 and 1980. (Source: Golf Australia, Australian Open history)
- A nod to Augusta's green jacket. (Source: PGA of Australia, Australian Masters history)

## 3.37 Amateur Championships

The oldest amateur titles, their trophies and the players who won them before turning pro.

### Test 1: Amateur championships

- At Royal Liverpool; Allan Macfie won. (Source: The R&A, championship history, The Amateur Championship)
- At Newport, Rhode Island. (Source: USGA, championship history, US Amateur)
- Named after the USGA's first president. (Source: USGA, championship history, US Amateur)
- Between 1924 and 1930. (Source: USGA, championship history, US Amateur)
- Set up by the Masters and The R&A. (Source: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, history)
- He was low amateur at the 2011 Masters. (Source: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, past champions)
- Including the Masters, the US Open and the Open. (Source: USGA, championship history, US Amateur exemptions)
- 1885, 1895, 1981 and 2009. (Source: The R&A, championship history; USGA, championship history)
- Under 19, 25 and over, 55 and over. (Source: USGA, championship history, championship eligibility)
- He had also won three US Junior Amateurs. (Source: USGA, championship history, US Amateur)

## 3.38 Senior Golf

Golf after 50: the senior majors, their first winners and the record holders.

### Test 1: Senior golf

- Jock Hutchison won it. (Source: PGA of America, Senior PGA Championship history)
- Palmer won the next one, in 1981. (Source: USGA, championship history, US Senior Open)
- Most of them between 1995 and 2005. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records)
- His 46th came at the US Senior Open. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records)
- Decided at the season finale. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records)
- Its TV success showed there was an audience. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records)
- Including the US Senior Open and the Senior Open. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records)
- 1937, 1980, 1983 and 1987. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records; USGA, championship history; The R&A, championship history)
- 1978, 1980 and 2023. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records)
- Carts are allowed at most events. (Source: PGA Tour Champions, history and records, player regulations)

## 3.39 Unusual Formats and Exhibitions

Skins, The Match, speedgolf, LIV, TGL and other ways to play golf for an audience.

### Test 1: Unusual formats

- Four legends played for money on each hole. (Source: PGA Tour, Skins Game history)
- He won it five times. (Source: PGA Tour, Skins Game history)
- On the 22nd hole, under lights. (Source: PGA Tour (2018), The Match at Shadow Creek)
- An 80 in 50 minutes scores 130. (Source: Speedgolf International, rules)
- Charl Schwartzel won it. (Source: LIV Golf (2022), London event)
- At the Albany resort. (Source: PGA Tour, Hero World Challenge)
- Its first season was in 2025. (Source: TGL, league format)
- 1961, 1983, 2018 and 2025. (Source: PGA Tour; TGL)
- Four, 48 and about 144. (Source: PGA Tour; LIV Golf)
- The hole is 53 cm across. (Source: Federation for International FootGolf, rules)

## 3.40 Youth and College Golf

College champions, junior titles and Drive, Chip and Putt.

### Test 1: Youth and college golf

- It went on to win more than twenty. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history)
- He won the US Amateur twice too. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history)
- In 1989, 1990 and 1992. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history)
- He turned pro later that year. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history)
- Given since 1990. (Source: Ben Hogan Award, Colonial Country Club)
- He shared the 1972 title with Kite. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history)
- On the Sunday before the Masters. (Source: Drive, Chip and Putt, national finals)
- 1948, 1978 and 2014. (Source: USGA, championship history; AJGA; Drive, Chip and Putt)
- Stroke play also decides the individual champion. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history)
- The worst score is thrown out. (Source: NCAA, Division I men's golf championship history, team scoring)

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia: PGA Tour, DP World Tour, USGA, The R&A, national federations, tournament and club histories. Facts already asked in golf Knowledge Testing (the majors, team cups, tours, Sawgrass's island green, Muirfield Village's designer) are left out.

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral