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Wikipedia / Thunderbird Invitational

The Thunderbird Invitational was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played from 1952 to 1959 in Rancho Mirage, California. Held in late January at Thunderbird Country Club, the tournament's purse was a modest $15,000; it was the direct predecessor of the Desert Classic, which began in 1960. Thunderbird hosted the Ryder Cup in 1955.

Arnold Palmer, 29, was the event's final champion in 1959; he won the next year at the first edition of the "Palm Springs Desert Classic," which had a $100,000 purse and a winner's share of 12,000, his largest tour check to date.

Ken Venturi, 26, won the 1958 event and was awarded a $1,500 check and a $4,500 automobile. He backed it up with another win the following week at Phoenix.

Jimmy Demaret won the event three times; his first was a 54-hole midweek event in 1953, and the last was an 18-hole playoff on Monday in 1957 for consecutive titles.

The 1952 event was a 36 hole pro-am, played midweek. Dutch Harrison won the best-ball while Jim Ferrier and Cary Middlecoff had the best professional scores.

Winners

Year

Winner

Score

To par

Margin ofvictory

Runner(s)-up

Winner'sshare ($)

Ref.

1959

Arnold Palmer

266

−18

3 strokes

Jimmy Demaret Ken Venturi

1,500

1958

Ken Venturi

269

−15

4 strokes

Jimmy Demaret Gene Littler

1,500

1957

Jimmy Demaret (3)

273

−11

Playoff

Mike Souchak Ken Venturi

2,000

1956

Jimmy Demaret (2)

269

−15

1 stroke

Cary Middlecoff

2,000

1955

Shelley Mayfield

270

−18

Playoff

Fred Haas Mike Souchak

2,000

1954

Fred Haas

268

−20

2 strokes

Marty Furgol Chandler Harper Bo Wininger

2,000

1953

Jimmy Demaret

201

−15

2 strokes

Ben Hogan Lloyd Mangrum Jim Turnesa

1,500

Playoffs

In 1953 it was over 54 holes, midweek. In 1955 Mayfield won with a birdie on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff. Mayfield and Souchak scored 69, Haas 70. In 1957 Demaret won after an 18-hole playoff, scoring 67, Souchak scored 75 and Venturi 76.

References