NEC World Series of Golf

The World Series of Golf was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. From its inception in 1962 through 1975, it was an unofficial 36-hole event matching the winners of the four major championships.[2] In 1976 it became an official PGA Tour event; the field expanded to 20 players and the event was lengthened to 72 holes.[3] the victory and $100,000 winner's share went to Nicklaus.[4] The field was increased to over 40 players in 1983,[5][6] though it never exceeded 50; NEC began sponsoring the event in 1984.

NEC World Series of Golf
Tournament information
LocationAkron, Ohio
Established1962, 1976
Course(s)Firestone Country Club
South Course
Par70
Length7,139 yards (6,528 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play – (no cut)
72 holes (1976–1998)
36 holes (1962–1975)
Prize fund$2.25 miilion (1998)
Month playedAugust
Final year1998
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 José María Olazábal (1990)
To par−18 as above
Final champion
David Duval
Akron
Location in the United States
Firestone CC
Location in Ohio

The tournament was last played in 1998, but was replaced by the newly created WGC-NEC Invitational in 1999.[7] Firestone Country Club had hosted that tournament (now known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) every year until 2019, except for 2002.

History

The World Series of Golf was founded as a four-man invitational event in 1962, comprising the winners of the four major championships in a 36-hole event.[2] In the made-for-television exhibition, the competitors played in one group for $75,000 in unofficial prize money, televised by NBC.

1962–1975

The inaugural edition in September 1962 included only the "Big Three" of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player. Palmer had won two majors that year and a fourth competitor was not added. Palmer shot a course record 65 in the first round on Saturday, but fell back with a 74 on Sunday. Nicklaus won with 135, four strokes ahead of Palmer and Player. Nicklaus, age 22, won a then-staggering $50,000, with $15,000 for second and $5,000 each for third and fourth, split between the other two for $12,500 each.[8][9][10][11] Opposite this competition was the regular tour event in Denver, which had a winner's share of $4,300.[12][13] The highest paying major at the time was the Masters with a winner's share of $20,000; Nicklaus had won $17,500 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, which included a sizable $2,500 playoff bonus from the extra day's gate receipts, well-attended due to the presence of favorite son Palmer. At the time of his big Akron payday, the U.S. Open was Nicklaus' only tour victory as a rookie, but he won the next two events at Seattle ($4,300)[14][15] and Portland ($3,500).[16]

In 1963, Nicklaus won two majors, so a fourth player was added to the World Series via an 18-hole playoff between the three men who had lost playoffs in that year's majors; Palmer and Jacky Cupit in the U.S. Open and Phil Rodgers in the Open Championship.[17] Palmer prevailed by five strokes in the August playoff.[18][19] Nicklaus repeated as the World Series winner in September, one stroke ahead of Julius Boros, with Palmer in third and Bob Charles in fourth.[20][21][22] The opposite tour event in 1963 was the Utah Open in Salt Lake City, with a winner's share of $6,400.[23][24]

The first year with four players as reigning major champions was 1964, the first without Nicklaus.[25] Tony Lema took the top spot, followed by Ken Venturi, Bobby Nichols, and Palmer.[26][27] This was also the first year without a concurrent PGA Tour event.

In the final year of the four-man format in 1975, Tom Watson won with a two-stroke advantage over runner-up Nicklaus. The money was the same as in 1962, except that third place received $7,500, claimed by Tom Weiskopf.[28] Nicklaus had won his second major of the year, the PGA Championship, at the same course a month earlier. In the fourteen editions of the event, Nicklaus played in ten, won four, and finished as runner-up in six.

In subsequent years, if one had won multiple majors, the alternate was the winner of the Western Open or Canadian Open.[29][30][31][32][33]

The format of the four major winners in a 36-hole competition was later adopted by the PGA of America in 1979 for its PGA Grand Slam of Golf, last held in 2014.

From 1961 through 1976, Firestone also hosted the American Golf Classic on the South course. It was not played in the years of the PGA Championship (1960, 1966, 1975), and the final edition in 1976 was played on the par-72 North course, with the World Series on the South course the following week.[34]

1976–1998

In 1976, it became a 72-hole, $300,000 PGA Tour event and its field was initially expanded to twenty;[3][35][36] the victory and $100,000 winner's share went to Nicklaus.[4] The largest first prize at a major that year was $45,000 at the PGA Championship.

The World Series of Golf quickly became a leading event on the tour.[37] For many years a victory in it gave a 10-year exemption on the PGA Tour, the same as was granted for a victory in a major championship at that time, and twice as long as is given even for winning a major now. The field consisted of the winners of all the high status men's professional golf tournaments around the world in the previous twelve months.

The field was expanded in 1984 to include some international players, all tour event winners, and the top fifteen on the current money list, with 47 players eligible.[5][6] The expansion wasn't well-received by all players, and a notable absence was Seve Ballesteros of Spain, who opted out.[38]

Winners
PGA Tour event (1976–1998)
Year Winner Country Score To par Margin
of victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)
NEC World Series of Golf
1998David Duval United States269−112 strokes Phil Mickelson405,000
1997Greg Norman (2) Australia273−74 strokes Phil Mickelson396,000
1996Phil Mickelson United States274−63 strokes Billy Mayfair
Duffy Waldorf
Steve Stricker		378,000
1995Greg Norman Australia278−2Playoff Billy Mayfair
Nick Price		360,000
1994José María Olazábal (2) Spain269−111 stroke Scott Hoch360,000
1993Fulton Allem South Africa270−105 strokes Jim Gallagher, Jr.
Nick Price
Craig Stadler		360,000
1992Craig Stadler (2) United States273−71 stroke Corey Pavin252,000
1991Tom Purtzer United States279−1Playoff Jim Gallagher, Jr.
Davis Love III		216,000
1990José María Olazábal Spain262−1812 strokes Lanny Wadkins198,000
1989David Frost South Africa276−4Playoff Ben Crenshaw180,000
1988Mike Reid United States275−5Playoff Tom Watson162,000
1987Curtis Strange United States275−53 strokes Fulton Allem144,000
1986Dan Pohl United States277−31 stroke Lanny Wadkins126,000
1985Roger Maltbie United States268−124 strokes Denis Watson126,000
1984Denis Watson Zimbabwe271−92 strokes Bruce Lietzke126,000
World Series of Golf
1983Nick Price Zimbabwe270−104 strokes Jack Nicklaus100,000
1982Craig Stadler United States278−2Playoff Raymond Floyd100,000
1981Bill Rogers United States275−51 stroke Tom Kite100,000
1980Tom Watson United States270−102 strokes Raymond Floyd100,000
1979Lon Hinkle United States272−81 stroke Larry Nelson
Bill Rogers
Lee Trevino		100,000
1978Gil Morgan United States278−2Playoff Hubert Green100,000
1977Lanny Wadkins United States267−135 strokes Hale Irwin
Tom Weiskopf		100,000
1976Jack Nicklaus United States275−54 strokes Hale Irwin100,000
Unofficial money event (1962–1975)
YearWinnerRunner(s)-upThirdFourth
World Series of Golf
1975 Tom Watson (O) Jack Nicklaus (MP)     Tom Weiskopf (C)[33] Lou Graham (U)
1974 Lee Trevino (P) Gary Player (MO) Bobby Nichols (C)[32] Hale Irwin (U)
1973 Tom Weiskopf (O)(T2) Jack Nicklaus (P) & Johnny Miller (U) Tommy Aaron (M)
1972 Gary Player (P)(T2) Jack Nicklaus (MU) & Lee Trevino (O) Gay Brewer (C)[31]
1971 Charles Coody (M) Jack Nicklaus (P) Lee Trevino (UO) Bruce Crampton (W)[30]
1970 Jack Nicklaus (O)(T2) Billy Casper (M) & Dave Stockton (P) Tony Jacklin (U)
1969 Orville Moody (U) George Archer (M)(tie) Tony Jacklin (O) & Raymond Floyd (P)
1968 Gary Player (O) Bob Goalby (M) Julius Boros (P) Lee Trevino (U)
1967 Jack Nicklaus (U) Gay Brewer (M) Roberto De Vicenzo (O) Don January (P)
1966 Gene Littler (C)[29](T2) Jack Nicklaus (MO) & Al Geiberger (P) Billy Casper (U)
1965 Gary Player (U) Jack Nicklaus (M) Peter Thomson (O) Dave Marr (P)
1964 Tony Lema (O) Ken Venturi (U) Bobby Nichols (P) Arnold Palmer (M)[27]
1963 Jack Nicklaus (MP) Julius Boros (U) Arnold Palmer (playoff)[17] Bob Charles (O)[22]
1962 Jack Nicklaus (U)(T2) Arnold Palmer (MO) & Gary Player (P) 

Major winners: M = Masters, U = U.S. Open, O = Open Championship, P = PGA Championship
Alternate winners: C = Canadian Open, W = Western Open

  • Palmer had won two majors in 1962, and no fourth player was added to the event.
  • Palmer won an 18-hole playoff against Jacky Cupit and Bill Rogers the two other runners-up in the two majors' playoffs in 1963.[17][18][19] The playoff was required as Jack Nicklaus had won two majors that year. The playoff would decide the fourth player to take place in the event.
PlaceMoney ($)
150,000
215,000
3  7,500 ^
45,000

^ Third place was $5,000 in the first three editions (1962–64)

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References
  1. "World Series of Golf". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). August 31, 1998. p. 4C.
  2. "World Series of Golf back for final time". Augusta Chronicle. (Georgia). Associated Press. August 27, 1998. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  3. "Now golf has a real World Series". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. August 29, 1976. p. 7B.
  4. "Nicklaus silences his doubters". Palm Beach Post. (Florida). wire services. September 6, 1976. p. D1.
  5. "Golf tournament expands". Gadsden Times. (Alabama). Associated Press. August 24, 1983. p. B3.
  6. Gilpin, Del (May 6, 1983). "World Series expands field". Ocala Star-Banner. (Florida). p. 8C.
  7. "Firestone to switch its format". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. August 27, 1998. p. D6.
  8. "While Palmer fades, Jack blooms to win golf's first World Series". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 10, 1962. p. 12.
  9. "Nicklaus is winner in golf World Series". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. September 10, 1962. p. 11.
  10. "World Series won by Jack". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 10, 1962. p. 3B.
  11. "Nicklaus wins $75,000 exhibition; Palmer fades". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. September 10, 1962. p. 1, sec. 4.
  12. "Goalby Denver king". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. September 10, 1962. p. 2B.
  13. "Goalby wins Denver golf; Duden's 2nd". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 10, 1962. p. 12.
  14. "Nicklaus wins Seattle Open". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 17, 1962. p. 3B.
  15. "Nicklaus wins Seattle Open by 2 strokes". Chicago Daily Tribune. UPI. September 17, 1962. p. 4, sec. 4.
  16. "Open won in Portland by Nicklaus". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. September 24, 1962. p. 2B.
  17. "Palmer, Cupit, Rodgers in Series playoff". Lodi News-Sentinel. (California). UPI. August 17, 1963. p. 8.
  18. "Palmer's 69 beats Cupit and Rodgers". Chicago Tribune. UPI. August 21, 1963. p. 3, sec. 3.
  19. Mooshil, Joe (August 21, 1963). "Palmer golf win adds glitter to 'World Series'". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). Associated Press. p. 8.
  20. "Nicklaus wins $50,000 in 'World Series' repeat". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. September 9, 1963. p. 4B.
  21. "It's Nicklaus by 1-for $50,000". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. September 9, 1963. p. 3, sec. 3.
  22. "$50,000 win for Nicklaus over Boros". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 9, 1963. p. 11.
  23. Ferguson, George (September 9, 1963). "Jacobs nabs prize in richest Utah Open". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 2B.
  24. "Tom Jacobs "hangs on" for Utah win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 9, 1963. p. 11.
  25. "World Series of golf to start". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. September 11, 1964. p. 1-C.
  26. "Tony beats holes, beds, saves title". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 14, 1964. p. 12.
  27. "Tony Lema victor in World Series". Eugene-Register Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 14, 1964. p. 3B.
  28. "Tom Watson easy victor as Jack, others foozle". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 8, 1975.
  29. "Littler Has Many Thanks". The Dispatch. (Lexington, North Carolina). UPI. September 12, 1966.
  30. "Coody in front by three strokes". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. September 12, 1971. p. 60.
  31. "Player, Trevino, Brewer face Nicklaus in Series". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 8, 1972. p. 14.
  32. "Player Favored, Nicklaus favorite in prestigious golf World Series". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. September 7, 1974. p. 3B.
  33. "Nicklaus has ax to grind". Evening Independent. (St. Petersburg, Florida). Associated Press. September 5, 1975. p. 5-C.
  34. "Akron ready to play host to 2 in a row". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 25, 1976. p. 45.
  35. Achenbach, Jim (March 27, 1976). "World Series of Golf still has its problems". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). p. 3C.
  36. Valerino, John (September 5, 1976). "Beman accomplished his goal of upgrading Series". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). p. 4C.
  37. "Beman wants to make Series 'major' tourney". Florence Times. (Alabama). UPI. October 5, 1978. p. 24.
  38. "Golf Series revises format". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). Associated Press. August 25, 1983. p. 27.

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