The Western Open was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, first played in 1899 at the Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois. At the time of its final edition in 2006, the Western Open was the third oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after the British Open (1860) and U.S. Open (1895).
Beginning in 2007, the Western Open was renamed the BMW Championship, part of the FedEx Cup playoff series, and played with the PGA Tour's point system as the sole qualification standard. It is not open to amateurs.
Western Open title sponsors have 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. Like the U.S. Open, in its early days it was usually won by visiting professionals from the United Kingdom, or by immigrant pros from the British Isles. In its early decades it was widely regarded as a major championship, although this designation was unofficial and it is generally not included in tallies of golfers' major championship wins.
From the event's inception until 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, the Western Open was held at the Colonial Country Club in Memphis, Tennessee.
Beginning in 1962, the Western Open settled within the Chicago, Illinois area, being played at different courses in and around the city. In 1974, the Western Open found an annual home at the Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, Illinois. It stayed this way until shortly after the 1990 tournament, when the PGA Tour adopted a policy of holding events only at clubs which allowed minorities and women to be members. This resulted in Butler National being replaced by the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, southwest of Chicago. Its Dubsdread Course hosted the Western Open from 1991 to 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, 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.[2][3]
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 played the weekend after Labor Day, and is the last FedEx Cup playoff event before The Tour Championship.
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | Margin
of victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue | Location |
|---|
| Cialis Western Open |
| 2006 | Trevor Immelman |  South Africa | 271 | −13 | 2 strokes |  Mathew Goggin
 Tiger Woods | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 2005 | Jim Furyk | United States | 270 | −14 | 2 strokes | Tiger Woods | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 2004 | Stephen Ames |  Trinidad and Tobago
 Canada | 274 | −10 | 2 strokes | Steve Lowery | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 100th Western Open presented by Golf Digest |
| 2003 | Tiger Woods (3) | United States | 267 | −21 | 5 strokes | Rich Beem | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| Advil Western Open |
| 2002 | Jerry Kelly | United States | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Davis Love III | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 2001 | Scott Hoch | United States | 267 | −21 | 1 stroke | Davis Love III | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 2000 | Robert Allenby | Australia | 274 | −14 | Playoff |  Nick Price | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| Motorola Western Open |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods (2) | United States | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | Mike Weir | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1998 | Joe Durant | United States | 271 | −17 | 2 strokes |  Vijay Singh | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | United States | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes |  Frank Nobilo | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1996 | Steve Stricker | United States | 270 | −18 | 8 strokes | Billy Andrade
Jay Don Blake | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1995 | Billy Mayfair | United States | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Jay Haas
Justin Leonard
Jeff Maggert
Scott Simpson | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1994 | Nick Price (2) | Zimbabwe | 277 | −11 | 1 stroke | Greg Kraft | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| Sprint Western Open |
| 1993 | Nick Price | Zimbabwe | 269 | −19 | 5 strokes | Greg Norman | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| Centel Western Open |
| 1992 | Ben Crenshaw | United States | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Greg Norman | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1991 | Russ Cochran | United States | 275 | −13 | 2 strokes | Greg Norman | Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois |
| 1990 | Wayne Levi | United States | 275 | −13 | 4 strokes | Payne Stewart | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| Beatrice Western Open |
| 1989 | Mark McCumber (2) | United States | 275 | −13 | Playoff | Peter Jacobsen | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1988 | Jim Benepe | United States | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Peter Jacobsen | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1987 | D. A. Weibring | United States | 207 | −9 | 1 stroke | Larry Nelson
Greg Norman | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| Western Open |
| 1986 | Tom Kite | United States | 286 | −2 | Playoff | Fred Couples
.svg.png) David Frost
Nick Price | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1985 | Scott Verplank (a) | United States | 279 | −9 | Playoff | Jim Thorpe | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1984 | Tom Watson (3) | United States | 280 | −8 | Playoff | Greg Norman | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1983 | Mark McCumber | United States | 284 | −4 | 1 stroke | Tom Watson | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1982 | Tom Weiskopf | United States | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Larry Nelson | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1981 | Ed Fiori | United States | 277 | −11 | 4 strokes | Jim Colbert
Greg Powers
Jim Simons | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1980 | Scott Simpson | United States | 281 | −7 | 5 strokes | Andy Bean | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1979 | Larry Nelson | United States | 286 | −2 | Playoff | Ben Crenshaw | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1978 | Andy Bean | United States | 282 | −6 | Playoff | Bill Rogers | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1977 | Tom Watson (2) | United States | 283 | −5 | 1 stroke | Wally Armstrong
Johnny Miller | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1976 | Al Geiberger | United States | 288 | +4 | 1 stroke | Joe Porter | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1975 | Hale Irwin | United States | 283 | −1 | 1 stroke | Bobby Cole | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1974 | Tom Watson | United States | 287 | +3 | 2 strokes | J. C. Snead
Tom Weiskopf | Butler National Golf Club | Oak Brook, Illinois |
| 1973 | Billy Casper (4) | United States | 272 | −12 | 1 stroke | Larry Hinson
Hale Irwin | Midlothian Country Club | Midlothian, Illinois |
| 1972 | Jim Jamieson | United States | 271 | −13 | 6 strokes | Labron Harris, Jr. | Sunset Ridge Country Club | Northfield, Illinois |
| 1971 | Bruce Crampton | Australia | 279 | −5 | 2 strokes | Bobby Nichols | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois |
| 1970 | Hugh Royer, Jr. | United States | 273 | −11 | 1 stroke | Dale Douglass | Beverly Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1969 | Billy Casper (3) | United States | 276 | −8 | 4 strokes | Rocky Thompson | Midlothian Country Club | Midlothian, Illinois |
| 1968 | Jack Nicklaus (2) | United States | 273 | −11 | 3 strokes | Miller Barber | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois |
| 1967 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 274 | −10 | 2 strokes | Doug Sanders | Beverly Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1966 | Billy Casper (2) | United States | 283 | −1 | 3 strokes | Gay Brewer | Medinah Country Club | Medinah, Illinois |
| 1965 | Billy Casper | United States | 270 | −14 | 2 strokes | Jack McGowan
Chi-Chi Rodríguez | Tam O'Shanter Country Club | Niles, Illinois |
| 1964 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | United States | 268 | −16 | 1 stroke | Arnold Palmer | Tam O'Shanter Country Club | Niles, Illinois |
| 1963 | Arnold Palmer (2) | United States | 280 | −4 | Playoff | Julius Boros
Jack Nicklaus | Beverly Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1962 | Jacky Cupit | United States | 281 | −3 | 2 strokes | Billy Casper | Medinah Country Club | Medinah, Illinois |
| 1961 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 271 | −13 | 2 strokes | Sam Snead | Blythefield Country Club | Belmont, Michigan |
| 1960 | Stan Leonard | .svg.png) Canada | 278 | −10 | Playoff | Art Wall, Jr. | Western Golf & Country Club | Redford, Michigan |
| 1959 | Mike Souchak |  United States | 272 | | 1 stroke | Arnold Palmer | Pittsburgh Field Club | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 1958 | Doug Sanders |  United States | 275 | | 1 stroke | Dow Finsterwald | Red Run Golf Club | Royal Oak, Michigan |
| 1957 | Doug Ford | United States | 279 | | Playoff | George Bayer
Gene Littler
Billy Maxwell | Plum Hollow Country Club | Southfield, Michigan |
| 1956 | Mike Fetchick | United States | 284 | | Playoff | Doug Ford
Jay Hebert
Don January | Presidio Golf Club | San Francisco, California |
| 1955 | Cary Middlecoff | United States | 272 | | 2 strokes | Mike Souchak | Portland Golf Club | Portland, Oregon |
| 1954 | Lloyd Mangrum (2) | United States | 277 | | Playoff | Ted Kroll | Kenwood Country Club | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 1953 | E. J. Harrison | United States | 278 | | 4 strokes | Ed Furgol
Fred Haas
Lloyd Mangrum | Bellerive Country Club | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| 1952 | Lloyd Mangrum | United States | 274 | | 8 strokes | Bobby Locke | Westwood Country Club | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| 1951 | Marty Furgol | United States | 270 | | 1 stroke | Cary Middlecoff | Davenport Country Club | Pleasant Valley, Iowa |
| 1950 | Sam Snead (2) | United States | 282 | | 1 stroke | Jim Ferrier
E. J. Harrison | Brentwood Country Club | Los Angeles, California |
| 1949 | Sam Snead | United States | 268 | | 4 strokes | Cary Middlecoff | Keller Golf Course | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| 1948 | Ben Hogan | United States | 281 | | Playoff | Ed Oliver | Brookfield Country Club | Clarence, New York |
| 1947 | Johnny Palmer | United States | 270 | | 1 stroke | Bobby Locke
Ed Oliver | Salt Lake City Country Club | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 1946 | Ben Hogan | United States | 271 | | 4 strokes | Lloyd Mangrum | Sunset Country Club | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| 1943-45: Cancelled due to World War II |
| 1942 | Herman Barron | United States | 276 | | 2 strokes | Henry Picard | Phoenix Golf Club | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 1941 | Ed Oliver | United States | 275 | | 3 strokes | Ben Hogan
Byron Nelson | Phoenix Golf Club | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 1940 | Jimmy Demaret | United States | 293 | | Playoff | Toney Penna | River Oaks Country Club | Houston, Texas |
| 1939 | Byron Nelson | United States | 281 | | 1 stroke | Lloyd Mangrum | Medinah Country Club | Medinah, Illinois |
| 1938 | Ralph Guldahl (3) | United States | 279 | | 7 strokes | Sam Snead | Westwood Country Club | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| 1937 | Ralph Guldahl (2) | United States | 288 | | Playoff | Horton Smith | Canterbury Golf Club | Beachwood, Ohio |
| 1936 | Ralph Guldahl | United States | 274 | | 3 strokes | Ray Mangrum | Davenport Country Club | Pleasant Valley, Iowa |
| 1935 | Johnny Revolta | United States | 290 | | 4 strokes | Willie Goggin | South Bend Country Club | South Bend, Indiana |
| 1934 | Harry Cooper |  England | 274 | | Playoff | Ky Laffoon | Country Club of Peoria | Peoria Heights, Illinois |
| 1933 | Macdonald Smith (3) |  Scotland | 282 | | 6 strokes | Tommy Armour | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois |
| 1932 | Walter Hagen (5) | United States | 287 | | 1 stroke | Olin Dutra | Canterbury Golf Club | Beachwood, Ohio |
| 1931 | Ed Dudley | United States | 280 | | 4 strokes | Walter Hagen | Miami Valley Golf Club | Dayton, Ohio |
| 1930 | Gene Sarazen | United States | 278 | | 7 strokes | Al Espinosa | Indianwood Golf & Country Club | Lake Orion, Michigan |
| 1929 | Tommy Armour | United States | 273 | | 8 strokes | Horton Smith | Ozaukee Country Club | Mequon, Wisconsin |
| 1928 | Abe Espinosa | United States | 291 | | 3 strokes | Johnny Farrell | North Shore Country Club | Glenview, Illinois |
| 1927 | Walter Hagen (4) | United States | 281 | | 4 strokes | Al Espinosa
Bill Mehlhorn | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois |
| 1926 | Walter Hagen (3) | United States | 279 | | 9 strokes | Harry Cooper
Gene Sarazen | Highland Golf & Country Club | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 1925 | Macdonald Smith (2) | Scotland | 281 | | 6 strokes | Leo Diegel
Johnny Farrell
Emmet French
Walter Hagen
Bill Mehlhorn | Youngstown Country Club | Youngstown, Ohio |
| 1924 | Bill Mehlhorn | United States | 293 | | 8 strokes | Al Watrous | Calumet Country Club | Homewood, Illinois |
| 1923 | Jock Hutchison (2) | Scotland | 281 | | 6 strokes | Bobby Cruickshank
Leo Diegel
Walter Hagen
Joe Kirkwood, Sr. | Colonial Country Club | Cordova, Tennessee |
| 1922 | Mike Brady | United States | 291 | | 10 strokes | Laurie Ayton, Snr
Jock Hutchison | Oakland Hills Country Club | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
| 1921 | Walter Hagen (2) | United States | 287 | | 5 strokes | Jock Hutchison | Oakwood Club | Cleveland Heights, Ohio |
| 1920 | Jock Hutchison | Scotland | 296 | | 1 stroke | Jim Barnes
Clarence Hackney
Harry Hampton | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois |
| 1919 | Jim Barnes (3) | England | 283 | | 3 strokes | Leo Diegel | Mayfield Country Club | Lyndhurst, Ohio |
| 1918 | Cancelled due to World War I |
| 1917 | Jim Barnes (2) | England | 283 | | 2 strokes | Walter Hagen | Westmoreland Country Club | Wilmette, Illinois |
| 1916 | Walter Hagen | United States | 286 | | 1 stroke | George Sargent | Blue Mound Golf & Country Club | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| 1915 | Tom McNamara | United States | 304 | | 2 strokes | Alex Cunningham | Glen Oak Golf Club | Glen Ellyn, Illinois |
| 1914 | Jim Barnes | England | 293 | | 1 stroke | Willie Kidd | Interlachen Country Club | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 1913 | John McDermott | United States | 295 | | 7 strokes | Mike Brady | Memphis Country Club | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 1912 | Macdonald Smith | Scotland | 299 | | 3 strokes | Alex Robertson | Idlewild Country Club | Flossmoor, Illinois |
| 1911 | Robert Simpson (2) | Scotland | | | | | Kent Country Club | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| 1910 | Chick Evans (a) | United States | | | | | Beverly Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1909 | Willie Anderson (4) | Scotland | 288 | | 9 strokes | Stewart Gardner | Skokie Country Club | Glencoe, Illinois |
| 1908 | Willie Anderson (3) | Scotland | 299 | | 1 stroke | Fred McLeod | Normandie Golf Club | Saint Louis, Missouri |
| 1907 | Robert Simpson | Scotland | 307 | | 2 strokes | Willie Anderson
Fred McLeod | Hinsdale Golf Club | Clarendon Hills, Illinois |
| 1906 | Alex Smith (2) | Scotland | 306 | | 3 strokes | Jack Hobens | Homewood Country Club | Flossmoor, Illinois |
| 1905 | Arthur Smith |  United States | 278 | | 2 strokes | James Maiden | Cincinnati Golf Club | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 1904 | Willie Anderson (2) | Scotland | 304 | | 4 strokes | Alex Smith | Kent Country Club | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| 1903 | Alex Smith | Scotland | 318 | | 2 strokes | Laurie Auchterlonie
David Brown | Milwaukee Country Club | River Hills, Wisconsin |
| 1902 | Willie Anderson | Scotland | 299 | | 5 strokes | Willie Smith
Bert Way | Euclid Club | Cleveland Heights, Ohio |
| 1901 | Laurie Auchterlonie | Scotland | 160 | | 2 strokes | David Bell | Midlothian Country Club | Midlothian, Illinois |
| 1900 | No tournament |
| 1899 | Willie Smith | Scotland | 156 | | Playoff | Laurie Auchterlonie | Glen View Club | Golf, Illinois |
References
External links
Coordinates: 41°40′37″N 87°57′07″W / 41.677°N 87.952°W / 41.677; -87.952
