# Western Open

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.

## History

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.
Beginning in 1962, the Western Open settled within the Chicago metropolitan area and was held at a variety of courses through 1973. In 1974, it found an annual home at the Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, a western suburb. It was played here through 1990, when the PGA Tour adopted a policy of holding events only at clubs which allowed minorities and women to be members. 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.
In 1899, the prize fund was $150, and Willie Smith's winner's share was fifty dollars. The purse in 2006 was $5 million, with $900,000 to the final winner, Trevor Immelman.
During the second round of the 1975 tournament on Friday, June 27, Lee Trevino and Jerry Heard were struck by lightning on the 13th green of Butler National while waiting out a rain delay. Also struck at other parts of the course were Bobby Nichols, Jim Ahern, and Tony Jacklin.

## BMW Championship

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

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue | Location |
| Cialis 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, Illinois |
| Western Open ||||||||
| 2003 | Tiger Woods (3) | 267 | −21 | 5 strokes | Rich Beem | Cog Hill | Lemont, Illinois |
| Advil 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, Illinois |
| Motorola 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, Illinois |
| Sprint Western Open ||||||||
| 1993 | Nick Price | 269 | −19 | 5 strokes | Greg Norman | Cog Hill | Lemont, Illinois |
| Centel 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, Illinois |
| Beatrice 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, Illinois |
| Western 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, Missouri |
| 1943–1945: 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, Ohio |
| 1918: 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 | 2 and 1 | 2 and 1 | Tom McNamara | Kent | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| 1910 | Chick Evans (a) | 6 and 5 | 6 and 5 | 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, Illinois |
| 1900: No tournament ||||||||
| 1899 | Willie Smith | 156 | | Playoff | Laurie Auchterlonie | Glen View | Golf, Illinois |