Houston Open Winners And History

Houston Open Winners and History

The Houston Open has been played — in various forms — since 1922, when it was the Independent Insurance Agent Open. It became the Houston Open in 1946. Shell was the tournament sponsor from 1992 – 2017. The tournament was without a title sponsor in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, the tournament was sponsored by Vivint, a “smart home” company. 

In 2022, the sponsor is Cadence Bank, which operates in the Southern US.

In 2021, the sponsor was Hewlett Packard Enterprise 

In 2019, the tournament moved from its traditional position in the spring to the fall. 

The 2023 event was not held due to a shift in the PGAT Schedule.

Today, the tournament is played at the Golf Club of Houston (formerly known as the Redstone Golf Club) in Humble, Texas, just outside Houston. 

The Houston Open is sponsored by the Houston Golf Association. The Houston Golf Association has operated as a non-profit since 1946 for the benefit of youth oriented charities. In addition to the recurring Houston Open, the Association also has landed the 1969 US Open, the 1967 Ryder Cup, the 1990, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003 PGA Tour Championships, as well as other USGA championships. 

The Houston Open was played at several Houston venues until the 1970s, starting at River Oaks Country Club in 1946 before moving to Memorial Park Golf Course in 1947 and, after a year off, moving again to Pine Forest Country Club in 1949 and BraeBurn Country Club in 1950. After this period of wandering about, the event settled in at Memorial Park from 1951–1963. In 1964 and again in 1965, the event was played at Sharpstown Country Club, before moving to Champions Golf Club from 1966–1971 and Westwood Country Club in 1972. 

In 1973 the event ventured outside of Houston, being played at Quail Valley Country Club in Missouri City, Texas. In 1975, the event relocated to The Woodlands, Texas, first at Woodlands Country Club until 1984, and subsequently at the TPC at The Woodlands until 2002. In 2003, the event moved back to Houston to its current location at the Golf Club of Houston (Redstone Golf Club). 

Among the notable Houston Open winners are Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Lee Elder, Ray Floyd and Curtis Strange. 

Three time Houston Open winners include Vijay Sing and Curtis Strange. Two time Houston Open winners include  Stuart Appleby, Bruce Crampton, Arnold Palmer, Bobby Nichols, Mike Souchak, Jack Burke, Jr., and Cary Middlecoff. 

Curtis Strange (1980), Lee Trevino (1980) and Vijay Singh (2002) hold the record for lowest aggregate score, at 266. The low 18 record is held by Fred Funk, 10-under-par 62, Woodlands TPC, 1992; and Ron Streck, 9-underpar 62, Woodlands West, 1982. 

An interesting side note. Legendary amateur golfer Frank Stranahan finished second in 1952. 

A list of Houston Open winners follows: 

Year	Player	Score	To par
HP Enterprise Houston Open
2024	Stephan Jaeger	268	-12
2023	No event
2022	Tony Finau	264	-16
2021	Jason Kokrak	270	-10
Vivint Houston Open
2020	Carlos Ortiz	267	-13
Houston Open
2019	Lanto Griffin	274	-14
2018	Ian Poulter	269	-19 (PO)
Shell Houston Open
2017	Russell Henley	268	-20
2016	Jim Herman	273	-15
2015	JB Holmes	272	-16 (PO)
2014	Matt Jones	273 (PO)	-15
2013	D.A. Points	272	-16
2012	Hunter Mahan	272	-16
2011	Phil Mickelson	268	-20
2010	Anthony Kim	276 (PO)	-12
2009	Paul Casey	277 (PO)	-11
2008	Johnson Wagner	272	-16
2007	Adam Scott	271	-17
2006	Stuart Appleby	269	-19
2005	Vijay Singh	275	-13
2004	Vijay Singh	277	-11
2003	Fred Couples	267	-21
2002	Vijay Singh	266	-22
2001	Hal Sutton	278	-10
2000	Robert Allenby	275	-13
1999	Stuart Appleby	279	-9
1998	David Duval	276	-12
1997	Phil Blackmar	276	-12
1996	Mark Brooks	274	-14
1995	Payne Stewart	276	-12
1994	Mike Heinen	272	-16
1993	Jim McGovern	199	-17
1992	Fred Funk	272	-16
Independent Insurance Agent Open
1991	Fulton Allem	273	-15
1990	Tony Sills	204	-12
1989	Mike Sullivan	280	-8
1988	Curtis Strange	270	-18
Big “I” Houston Open
1987	Jay Haas	276	-12
Houston Open
1986	Curtis Strange	274	-14
1985	Raymond Floyd	277	-11
Houston Coca-Cola Open
1984	Corey Pavin	274	-10
1983	David Graham	275	-9
Michelob-Houston Open
1982	Ed Sneed	275	-9
1981	Ron Streck	198	-15
1980	Curtis Strange	266	-18
Houston Open
1979	Wayne Levi	268	-16
1978	Gary Player	270	-18
1977	Gene Littler	276	-12
1976	Lee Elder	278	-10
1975	Bruce Crampton	273	-15
1974	Dave Hill	276	-12
1973	Bruce Crampton	277	-11
1972	Bruce Devlin	278	-10
Houston Champions International
1971	Hubert Green	280	-4
1970	Gibby Gilbert	282	-2
1969	No tournament – club hosted the 1969 U.S. Open
1968	Roberto De Vicenzo	274	-10
1967	Frank Beard	274	-10
1966	Arnold Palmer	275	-9
Houston Classic
1965	Bobby Nichols	273	-7
1964	Mike Souchak	278	-6
1963	Bob Charles	268	-12
1962	Bobby Nichols	278	-2
1961	Jay Hebert	276	-4
1960	Bill Collins	280	-8
1959	Jack Burke, Jr.	277	-11
Houston Open
1958	Ed Oliver	281	-7
1957	Arnold Palmer	279	-9
1956	Ted Kroll	277	-11
1955	Mike Souchak	273	-15
1954	Dave Douglas	277	-11
1953	Cary Middlecoff	283	-5
1952	Jack Burke, Jr.	277	-11
1951	Marty Furgol	277	-11
1950	Cary Middlecoff	277	-11
1949	Johnny Palmer	272	-16
1948	No tournament
1947	Bobby Locke	277	-11
1946	Byron Nelson	274	-10
1939-45	No tournament
1938	Harold “Jug” McSpaden	212
1937	Harry Cooper	280	-4
1933-36	No tournament
1932	Clarence Clark	220	4
1931	No tournament
1930	Al Espinosa	281	-7
1925-29	No tournament
1924	Joe Kirkwood, Sr.	259
Independent Insurance Agent Open
1923	Joe Kirkwood, Sr.	151
Independent Insurance Agent Open
1922	George Bowden	147
	Pete O’Hara (tie)