Greater Milwaukee Open
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Greater Milwaukee Open was a regular
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standardized playing area, and coping wi ...
tournament in
Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
on the
PGA Tour The PGA Tour (stylized in all capital letters as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also k ...
. For 42 years, it was played annually in the
Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
area, the final sixteen editions in the north suburb of Brown Deer at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
U.S. Bancorp U.S. Bancorp (stylized as us bancorp) is an American bank holding company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and incorporated in Delaware. It is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, and is the fifth largest banking institution i ...
was the main sponsor of the tournament in its final years and the last purse in
2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
was $4 million, with a winner's share of $720,000. The event was run by Milwaukee Golf Charities, Inc., with proceeds going to a variety of Wisconsin charities.


History

The tournament debuted in
1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Januar ...
as the Greater Milwaukee Open (or GMO), competing against the
British Open The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...
by offering a $200,000 purse (second highest on the Tour) with a $40,000 first prize.
Lee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino (born December 1, 1939) is an American retired professional golfer who is regarded as one of the greatest players in golf history. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. Trevino won six major championships and ...
, the recent U.S. Open winner, chose to play in the more lucrative GMO instead of the 1968 British Open.
Art Wall Jr. Arthur Jonathan Wall Jr. (November 25, 1923 – October 31, 2001) was an American professional golfer, best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 1959 Masters Tournament, 1959. Early life Wall was born and raised in Honesdale, Pennsylvania ...
, the champion, won in
1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...
at age 51 for his first tour win in nine years, his fourteenth and final win on the tour. Wall was one stroke ahead of 27-year-old runner-up
Gary McCord Gary Dennis McCord (born May 23, 1948) is an American professional golfer, commentator and author. Early life and career McCord was born in San Gabriel, California, and raised in southern California, graduating from Ramona High School in Riversi ...
, later a noted golf commentator, but winless in his career on the PGA Tour. In 2004,
U.S. Bank U.S. Bancorp (stylized as us bancorp) is an American bank holding company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and incorporated in Delaware. It is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, and is the fifth largest banking institution i ...
signed on as title sponsor. In July 2006, U.S. Bank and Milwaukee Golf Charities Inc. announced that U.S. Bank will remain the sponsor for at least three more years. The tournament was played at four courses in the Milwaukee area: It was nationally televised beginning in 1989, and
Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds numerous golf records. * * * Woods is widely regarded as ...
made his professional debut in
1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...
at Brown Deer with a 67 on August 29, four days after winning his third consecutive
U.S. Amateur The United States Amateur Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Amateur, is the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers. It is organized by the United States Golf Association and is currently held each August ov ...
title in Oregon. At age 20, he made the cut and tied for 60th place, earning a modest $2,544. The event ended when U.S. Bank announced that it would not renew its sponsorship after the 2009 event. Secondary sponsor
Aurora Health Care Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) is a non-profit health care system with dual headquarters located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Downers Grove, Illinois. As of 2021, the AAH system has 26 hospitals and more than 500 sites of care, with 75,000 em ...
also announced that it would substantially cut back on its financial involvement. Before U.S. Bank's sponsorship, the tournament survived thanks to the help of late philanthropist Jane Pettit. Its slot on the PGA Tour schedule against the
British Open The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...
, along with low attendance and TV ratings, were reasons cited by U.S. Bank for pulling out of the event. The Greater Milwaukee Charities organization has closed its offices and has shut down.


Tournament highlights

* 1968:
Dave Stockton David Knapp Stockton (born November 2, 1941) is an American retired professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Stockton was born in San Bernardino, California. He attended the University of Southern ...
wins the first Greater Milwaukee Open despite twice striking spectators with his drives in the final round. He beats
Sam Snead Samuel Jackson Snead (pronounced English_phonology">sni:d.html" ;"title="English_phonology.html" ;"title="nowiki/>English phonology">sni:d">English_phonology.html" ;"title="nowiki/>English phonology">sni:d May 27, 1912 – May 23, 2002) was an ...
by four shots. * 1969:
Ken Still Kenneth Allan Still (February 12, 1935 – March 19, 2017) was an American professional golfer who played on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour. Still was born in Tacoma, Washington. During his early twenties, he developed a friendship wit ...
shoots a final round 65 to beat
Gary Player Gary James Player DMS, OIG (born 1 November 1935) is a South African retired professional golfer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. During his career, Player won nine major championships on the regular tou ...
by two strokes. The win all but clinches Still a spot on the Ryder Cup team. * 1970:
Deane Beman } Deane R. Beman (born April 22, 1938) is an American professional golfer, golf administrator. He was the second commissioner of the PGA Tour, serving from 1974 to 1994. Early years Born in Washington, D.C., Beman attended the University of Maryla ...
makes the most of his withdrawal from the
Open Championship The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...
to play in Milwaukee instead. He beats
Don Massengale Donald Ray Massengale Sr. (April 23, 1937 – January 2, 2007) was an American professional golfer who won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour. Career Massengale was born in Jacksboro, Texas. He won the 1958 Texas Amateur ...
, Ted Hayes, and Richard Crawford by three shots. * 1974:
Ed Sneed Edgar Sneed Jr. (born August 6, 1944) is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and course design consultant, who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Sneed was born in Roanoke, Virginia. He graduated from Ohio State University ...
is the tournament's first wire-to-wire winner. He beats
Grier Jones Grier Jones (born May 6, 1946) is a former college head golf coach and former PGA Tour professional golfer. Jones was born, raised and has been a lifelong resident of Wichita, Kansas. He attended Wichita's Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School wh ...
by 4 shots. * 1975: 51-year-old
Art Wall Jr. Arthur Jonathan Wall Jr. (November 25, 1923 – October 31, 2001) was an American professional golfer, best known for winning the Masters Tournament in 1959 Masters Tournament, 1959. Early life Wall was born and raised in Honesdale, Pennsylvania ...
beats
Gary McCord Gary Dennis McCord (born May 23, 1948) is an American professional golfer, commentator and author. Early life and career McCord was born in San Gabriel, California, and raised in southern California, graduating from Ramona High School in Riversi ...
by one shot. * 1978:
Lee Elder Robert Lee Elder (July 14, 1934 – November 28, 2021) was an American professional golfer. In 1975, he became the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament, where he missed the cut. Elder was invited to the tournament after he w ...
defeats
Lee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino (born December 1, 1939) is an American retired professional golfer who is regarded as one of the greatest players in golf history. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. Trevino won six major championships and ...
on the 8th hole of a sudden death playoff. * 1979: Black golfer
Calvin Peete Calvin Peete (July 18, 1943 – April 29, 2015) was an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American to have played on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, prior to the emergence of Tiger Woods. Peete won the 1985 Tournament ...
, who did not take up golf until he was 23 years old, wins for the first time on the PGA Tour. He shoots a final round 65 to beat Jim Simons, Lee Trevino, and
Victor Regalado Victor Regalado (born 15 April 1948) is a Mexican professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. Early life Regalado was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Amateur career As an amateur, he played in tournaments in the San Diego, Californ ...
by five shots. * 1982: Calvin Peete wins at Milwaukee and on the PGA Tour for the second time and in almost carbon copy fashion from his 1979 win. He finishes two strokes ahead of Victor Regalado who was also runner-up in 1979. * 1985:
Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus (born January 21, 1940), nicknamed The Golden Bear, is a retired American professional golfer and List of golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, golf course designer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest go ...
competes in Milwaukee for the first time as a professional. He finishes second, three strokes behind winner
Jim Thorpe James Francis Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk): ''Wa-Tho-Huk'', translated as "Bright Path"; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Native ...
. * 1986:
Corey Pavin Corey Allen Pavin (born November 16, 1959) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and currently on the PGA Tour Champions. He spent over 150 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 1986 and 1997 ...
wins in Milwaukee for the first time. He birdies the 4th hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Dave Barr. * 1989:
Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO (born 10 February 1955) is an Australian entrepreneur and retired professional golfer who spent 331 weeks as world number one in the 1980s and 1990s. He won 89 professional tournaments, including 20 PGA Tour tournament ...
competes in Milwaukee for the first time. He beats
Andy Bean Thomas Andrew Bean (born March 13, 1953) is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Bean has won numerous tournaments at both the amateur and professional level. Bean won 11 PGA Tour victories, includi ...
by 3 shots. * 1993:
Billy Mayfair William Fred Mayfair (born August 6, 1966) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Early years and amateur career Mayfair was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Before his fifteenth birthday, he won numerous junior golf tournaments. ...
holes a 20-foot chip shot on the fourth hole of a three-way sudden death playoff to defeat
Mark Calcavecchia Mark John Calcavecchia (born June 12, 1960) is an American professional golfer and a former PGA Tour member. During his professional career, he won 13 PGA Tour events, including the 1989 Open Championship. He plays on the Champions Tour as well ...
and earn his first PGA Tour title.
Ted Schulz Theodore James Schulz (born October 29, 1959) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour. Schulz was born, raised and has lived his entire life in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended the U ...
had dropped out on the first playoff hole after making bogey. * 1996:
Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds numerous golf records. * * * Woods is widely regarded as ...
makes his professional debut at the age of 20 four days after winning his third consecutive
U.S. Amateur The United States Amateur Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Amateur, is the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers. It is organized by the United States Golf Association and is currently held each August ov ...
title. He shoots -7 for the tournament (67-69-73-68), including his first-ever hole-in-one as a professional on the 14th hole during his final round, to finish tied for 60th and earn $2,544. * 1997:
Loren Roberts Loren Lloyd Roberts (born June 24, 1955) is an American professional golfer, who has played on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Early life Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High Scho ...
attempt to become the first Greater Milwaukee Open champion to defend his title is foiled when
Scott Hoch Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...
sinks a 60-foot chip shot for eagle on the 72nd hole to beat Roberts and David Sutherland by one shot. * 1999:
Carlos Franco Carlos Daniel Franco (born 24 May 1965) is a Paraguayan professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He is the brother of golfer Ángel Franco. Franco was born in Asunción, Paraguay. He comes from a poor background and gr ...
wins for the second time in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He beats
Tom Lehman Thomas Edward Lehman (born March 7, 1959) is an American professional golfer. A former number 1 ranked golfer, his tournament wins include one major title, the 1996 Open Championship; and he is the only golfer in history to have been awarded th ...
by two shots. * 2003:
Kenny Perry James Kenneth Perry (born August 10, 1960) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He won 14 PGA Tour events and has won nine PGA Tour Champions events including four senior major championships: the 20 ...
birdies the 72nd hole to win by one shot over
Stephen Allan Stephen Douglas Allan (born 18 October 1973) is an Australian professional golfer. Allan was born in Melbourne. His parents emigrated from Edinburgh, Scotland three years before he was born. He turned professional in 1996 and was a member of t ...
and
Heath Slocum Tyler Heath Slocum (born February 3, 1974) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. Early years Slocum was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in Bunkie, Louisiana from ...
. * 2006: Corey Pavin sets a 9-hole PGA Tour scoring record, 26, on his way to a first round 61. Pavin, who had first won in Milwaukee in 1986, goes on to win the tournament for a second time, beating
Jerry Kelly Jerome Patrick Kelly (born November 23, 1966) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Career Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Kelly graduated from the University of Hartford in 1989 and turne ...
by two shots. * 2009:
Bo Van Pelt Bo Van Pelt (born May 16, 1975) is an American professional golfer who has played on both the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour. He has featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Van Pelt was born in Richmond, Indiana. He graduat ...
wins the final edition of the tournament. He defeats
John Mallinger John Charles Mallinger (born September 25, 1979) is an American professional golfer. Early life Mallinger was born in Escondido, California, and is the youngest of four children. He graduated from Escondido High School. Amateur career Malli ...
on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.Bo Van Pelt wins PGA Milwaukee title playoff
/ref>


Winners

''Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.''


Multiple winners

Eight men won the GMO more than once, but none more than twice. * 2 wins:
Dave Stockton David Knapp Stockton (born November 2, 1941) is an American retired professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Stockton was born in San Bernardino, California. He attended the University of Southern ...
(1968, 1973),
Dave Eichelberger Martin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. (born September 3, 1943) is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels. Eichelberger was born in Waco, Texas. He started in the game at the age of ...
(1971, 1977),
Calvin Peete Calvin Peete (July 18, 1943 – April 29, 2015) was an American professional golfer. He was the most successful African-American to have played on the PGA Tour, with 12 wins, prior to the emergence of Tiger Woods. Peete won the 1985 Tournament ...
(1979, 1982),
Scott Hoch Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...
(1995, 1997),
Loren Roberts Loren Lloyd Roberts (born June 24, 1955) is an American professional golfer, who has played on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Early life Roberts was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High Scho ...
(1996, 2000),
Jeff Sluman Jeffrey George Sluman (born September 11, 1957) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments including six PGA Tour victories. Early years Sluman was born and reared in Rochester, New York. After graduati ...
(1998, 2002),
Carlos Franco Carlos Daniel Franco (born 24 May 1965) is a Paraguayan professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He is the brother of golfer Ángel Franco. Franco was born in Asunción, Paraguay. He comes from a poor background and gr ...
(1999, 2004), and
Corey Pavin Corey Allen Pavin (born November 16, 1959) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and currently on the PGA Tour Champions. He spent over 150 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking between 1986 and 1997 ...
(1986, 2006)


See also

* Other former PGA Tour events in Milwaukee **
Milwaukee Open The Milwaukee Open was a professional golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour, played only in 1940. It was held August 2–4 at North Hills Country Club in Menomenee Falls, northwest of Milwaukee. Three-time major winner Ralph Guldahl shot ...
, 1940 **
Blue Ribbon Open The Blue Ribbon Open was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played only in 1951. It was held in Wisconsin at the North Hills Country Club in Menomenee Falls, northwest of Milwaukee. Part-time Hollywood actor Joe Kirkwood Jr. won ...
, 1951 **
Milwaukee Open Invitational The Milwaukee Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament in Wisconsin on the PGA Tour. It was played seven times from 1955 through 1961 at different courses in the Milwaukee area. During its final year, Arnold Palmer skipped the tourname ...
, 1955–61


References


External links


Official website

PGATOUR.com Tournament website
{{Former PGA Tour Events Former PGA Tour events Golf in Wisconsin Sports in Milwaukee Recurring sporting events established in 1968 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2009 1968 establishments in Wisconsin 2009 disestablishments in Wisconsin Defunct sports competitions in the United States