Northern Trust Open – Los Angeles Open Past Winners And History

The Northern Trust Open now is the Genesis Invitational. Read more at the link.

Northern Trust now sponsors the first leg of the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, which previously was known as the Barclays.

Northern Trust OpenKnown for the vast majority of its life as The Los Angeles Open, the Northern Trust Open also has flown under the banner of the Nissan Open and—in the days of the celebrity hosted event—the Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open. Since 1973, it has been played at the fabled Riviera Country Club, with the exception of 1983, when the club hosted the PGA Championship and 1998, when it hosted the US Senior Open.

The tournament and the Club have gained a place in golf history. In the 1938 tournament, Babe Zaharias became the first woman to play in a men’s professional tournament. Ben Hogan won there in 1942, 1947 and 1948—which, along with his 1948 US Open victory at Riviera, gave the place the sobriquet “Hogan’s Alley.” Three victories in two years at Riviera is an amazing accomplishment. Finally, the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open gave amateur Tiger Woods his first spot in a professional tournament.

The inaugural Los Angeles Open was played in 1926 at the Los Angeles Country Club. The next year, it moved to El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana. It moved again in 1928 to the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Open made its first appearance at the Riviera Country Club in 1929 and 1930. In the 1930s the event was held at the Wilshire Country Club, the Hillcrest Country Club, The Los Angeles Country Club an Griffith Park.

Following a break for World War II, the Los Angeles Open was played at the Wilshire Country Club in 1944, and then for the next nine years at Riviera. In the 1950s, it was played at Fox Hills Country Club, Inglewood Country Club and Inglewood. Rancho Park hosted the event from 1956 to 1972.

The 18th At Riviera
The 18th At Riviera

Riviera Country Club, the current host of the Northern Trust – Los Angeles Open is one of the country’s fabled courses. The course opened in 1926 as the Los Angeles Athletic Golf Course with George Thomas listed as its principal designer. Credit, however, also is given to Alister Mackenzie and Billie Bell. After several redesigns, Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore made an attempt in 1992 to return Riviera’s bunkers to the original Thomas-MacKenzie design.

Thomas’ work at Riviera is oft cited for its risk-reward design. The first, for example, is a short par 5 that has a tee elevated some 75 feet above the fairway. It’s possible to make an Eagle on this hole, but thanks to out of bounds left and a ditch crossing the fairway, a wayward drive can drive to score to a double bogey. The par 4 eighth has two fairways separated by a ditch. Ten, a par 4 , is drivable, but greenside bunkers make it a risky proposition. The eleventh and twelfth are defended by ditches, bunkers and trees. I also think it has one of the great finishing holes—a par 4 with a mostly blind tee shot and a green situated in a natural amphitheater.

Old Northern Trust Logo
Old Northern Trust Logo

The course also has a bit of humor. The par 3 sixth has a bunker in the middle of the green. I wonder what Hogan thought of that. For my part, Riviera is on my list of courses I’d most like to play.

While Hogan had four victories at Riviera, he had only three Los Angeles Open Titles. The records for most victories at the Los Angles Open are held by Macdonald Smith (1928, 1929, 1932, 1934) and Lloyd Mangrum (1949, 1951, 1953, 1956). A complete list of Northern Trust Open winners follows:

Northern Trust Open – Los Angeles Open Winners
Year Player Country Score To par 1st Prize ($) Purse ($)
Northern Trust Open
2016 Bubba Watson United States 269 -17 1,206,000 6,700,000
2015 James Hahn United States 278 -6 PO 1,206,000 6,700,000
2014 Bubba Watson United States 269 -17 1,206,000 6,700,000
2013 John Merrick United States 273 -11 1,188,000 6,600,000
2012 Bill Haas United States 277 -7 1,188,000 6,600,000
2011 Aaron Baddeley Australia 272 -12 1,170,000 6,500,000
2010 Steve Stricker United States 268 -16 1,152,000 6,400,000
2009 Phil Mickelson United States 269 -15 1,134,000 6,300,000
2008 Phil Mickelson United States 272 -12 1,116,000 6,200,000
Nissan Open
2007 Charles Howell III United States 268 -16 936,000 5,200,000
2006 Rory Sabbatini South Africa 271 -13 918,000 5,100,000
2005 Adam Scott Australia 133
(36 holes)
-9 864,000 4,800,000
2004 Mike Weir Canada 267 -17 864,000 4,800,000
2003 Mike Weir Canada 275 -9 810,000 4,500,000
2002 Len Mattiace United States 269 -15 666,000 3,700,000
2001 Robert Allenby Australia 276 -8 612,000 3,400,000
2000 Kirk Triplett United States 272 -12 558,000 3,100,000
1999 Ernie Els South Africa 270 -14 504,000 2,800,000
1998 Billy Mayfair United States 272 -12 378,000 2,100,000
1997 Nick Faldo England 272 -12 252,000 1,400,000
1996 Craig Stadler United States 278 -6 216,000 1,200,000
1995 Corey Pavin United States 268 -16 216,000 1,200,000
Nissan Los Angeles Open
1994 Corey Pavin United States 271 -13 180,000 1,000,000
1993 Tom Kite United States 206
(54 holes)
-7 180,000 1,000,000
1992 Fred Couples United States 269 -15 180,000 1,000,000
1991 Ted Schulz United States 272 -12 180,000 1,000,000
1990 Fred Couples United States 266 -18 180,000 1,000,000
1989 Mark Calcavecchia United States 272 -12 180,000 1,000,000
Los Angeles Open presented by Nissan
1988 Chip Beck United States 267 -17 135,000 750,000
1987 T. C. Chen Taiwan 275 -9 108,000 600,000
Los Angeles Open
1986 Doug Tewell United States 270 -14 81,000 450,000
1985 Lanny Wadkins United States 264 -20 72,000 400,000
1984 David Edwards United States 279 -5 72,000 400,000
Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open
1983 Gil Morgan United States 270 -14 54,000 300,000
1982 Tom Watson United States 271 -13 54,000 300,000
1981 Johnny Miller United States 270 -14 54,000 300,000
1980 Tom Watson United States 276 -8 45,000 250,000
1979 Lanny Wadkins United States 276 -8 45,000 250,000
1978 Gil Morgan United States 278 -6 40,000 225,000
1977 Tom Purtzer United States 273 -11 40,000 225,000
1976 Hale Irwin United States 272 -12 37,000 185,000
1975 Pat Fitzsimons United States 275 -9 30,000 150,000
1974 Dave Stockton United States 276 -8 30,000 150,000
1973 Rod Funseth United States 276 -8 27,000 135,000
1972 George Archer United States 270 -14 25,000 125,000
1971 Bob Lunn United States 274 -10 22,000 110,000
Los Angeles Open
1970 Billy Casper United States 276 -8 20,000 100,000
1969 Charlie Sifford United States 276 -8 20,000 100,000
1968 Billy Casper United States 274 -10 20,000 100,000
1967 Arnold Palmer United States 269 -15 20,000 100,000
1966 Arnold Palmer United States 273 -11 11,000 75,000
1965 Paul Harney United States 276 -8 12,000 75,000
1964 Paul Harney United States 280 -4 7,500 50,000
1963 Arnold Palmer United States 274 -10 9,000 50,000
1962 Phil Rodgers United States 268 -16 7,500 50,000
1961 Bob Goalby United States 275 -9 7,500 50,000
1960 Dow Finsterwald United States 280 -4 5,500 44,500
1959 Ken Venturi United States 278 -6 5,300 35,000
1958 Frank Stranahan United States 275 -9 7,000 35,000
1957 Doug Ford United States 280 -4 7,000 37,500
1956 Lloyd Mangrum United States 272 -12 6,000 32,500
1955 Gene Littler United States 276 -8 5,000 25,000
1954 Fred Wampler United States 281 -3 4,000 20,000
1953 Lloyd Mangrum United States 280 -4 2,750 20,000
1952 Tommy Bolt United States 289 +5 4,000 17,500
1951 Lloyd Mangrum United States 280 -4 2,600 15,000
1950 Sam Snead United States 280 -4 2,600 15,000
1949 Lloyd Mangrum United States 284 E 2,600 15,000
1948 Ben Hogan United States 275 -9 2,000 10,000
1947 Ben Hogan United States 280 -4 2,000 10,000
1946 Byron Nelson United States 284 E 2,667 13,333
1945 Sam Snead United States 283 -1 2,666 13,333
1944 Harold “Jug” McSpaden United States 278 -6 4,300 12,500
1943 No tournament due to World War II
1942 Ben Hogan United States 282 -6 3,500 10,000
1941 Johnny Bulla United States 281 -3 3,500 10,000
1940 Lawson Little United States 282 +2 1,500 5,000
1939 Jimmy Demaret United States 274 -10 1,650 5,000
1938 Jimmy Thomson Scotland 273 -11 2,100 5,000
1937 Harry Cooper United States 274 -10 2,500 8,000
1936 Jimmy Hines United States 280 E 1,500 5,000
1935 Vic Ghezzi United States 285 +5 1,075 5,000
1934 Macdonald Smith Scotland 280 E 1,450 5,000
1933 Craig Wood United States 282 -2 1,525 5,000
1932 Macdonald Smith Scotland 281 -3 2,000 7,500
1931 Ed Dudley United States 285 +1 3,500 10,000
1930 Denny Shute United States 296 +12 3,500 10,000
1929 Macdonald Smith Scotland 285 +1 3,500 10,000
1928 Macdonald Smith Scotland 284 E 3,500 10,000
1927 Bobby Cruickshank Scotland 282 -6 3,500 10,000
1926 Harry Cooper United States 279 -7 3,500 10,000

10 thoughts on “Northern Trust Open – Los Angeles Open Past Winners And History”

  1. A really strong field assembled here for the Northern Trust Open.

    It’s a shame Tiger/Rory & Brandt aren’t there because it would make it close to a major like field.

    Phil backing up for 3 events in a row, he must be feeling really fresh and good about his game.

    Reply
  2. how can I find out the final standings of each player at the 1979 glenn Campbell open at Reviera.  Lanny Wadkins was the winner, but Iam trying to find out the overall standings that year.

    Reply
  3. Where may I find the complete results of the 1944 LA Open , won by McSpaden?
    My husband played all four rounds but doesn’t remember
    his score.
    Have looked all over and can’t find anything more than the winner
    Thank You

    Hunter

    Reply
  4. Do you know anything about a fella named Sky Chissolm ( not sure of this spelling ). He’s pictured in a photo used on the Ojai Valley Golf Course scorecard, standing with Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demerret, Al Fasio,Al Demerret and Jack Benny Taken shortly after WW2 when the course reopened after the war.

    Reply
  5. Do you know anything about a fellow named Sky Chissolm ( not sure of this spelling )? He’s pictured in a photo used on the Ojai Valley Golf Club scorecard. He’s standing with Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demerret, Al Demerret,Al Fasio, and Jack Benny. The photo looks to be taken just after WW2, when the course re-opened.

    Reply

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