By Norrie West
Forty years of professional golf at Torrey Pines is a 40-year drama that has so many chapters and heroic cast that few courses, or tournaments, in America could equal.
There were the days (in the 60’s and 70’s) of the Monday morning “Rabbits” trying to get into the tournament. They were called “rabbits” as they were up and coming professionals who followed the TOUR attempting to qualify for that week’s event.
Although Torrey Pines was built in 1957 when a military base was converted into what has become one of the most recognized municipal golf courses in the world, the real story began in 1968 when the PGA TOUR San Diego tournament was moved to Torrey Pines and Tom Weiskopf eagled the 18th hole on the South Course to win his first PGA TOUR event and the first Andy Williams San Diego Open. Weiskopf won the first place prize of $30,000 from the $150,000 purse.
Over the years at Torrey Pines there have been many exciting finishes. Nicklaus edged Littler by a stroke in 1969. Pete Brown became the one of the first African-Americans to win a PGA TOUR event by winning a playoff with Tony Jacklin in 1970. Paul Harney birdied the final hole to win by a shot over Hale Irwin in 1972. J.C. Snead won his first of two in a row by beating Raymond Floyd and Bobby Nichols in a playoff in 1975. Fuzzy Zoeller won his first tournament by edging out Tom Watson in 1977, then a couple of months later won the Masters tournament. Johnny Miller held off Jack Nicklaus’ final round 64 to win by one stroke in 1982. Bob Tway won his first PGA TOUR tournament in a playoff with Bernhard Langer in 1986, then went on to win the PGA Championship that year. Phil Mickelson won his first PGA TOUR tournament as a professional in 1993. Scott Simpson held off Davis Love III and Tiger Woods by a shot, and went on to beat Skip Kendall in a playoff to win in 1998. Mickelson won his second Buick Invitational in a playoff with Davis Love III and Frank Lickliter in 2001. Phil’s victory is in the PGA TOUR record books as winning the last hole of the playoff with a double bogey. And, everyone will remember John Daly almost holing a 50’ bunker shot for an eagle, and then tapping in for a birdie to win a playoff over Luke Donald and Chris Riley in 2004. Arguably the most dramatic victory was in 1999 when Tiger Woods, who made the cut on the number, shot 62-65 on the weekend to win by two shots and at the same time tied George Burns for the tournament record of 266 (22 under par).
There were great performances, and then a real laugher when Bruce Devlin made a ten on the final hole in 1975 when he hit three balls into the pond and lost the tournament. Appropriately, the pond on #18 has been named “Devlin’s Billabong” and is permanently commemorated with a plaque in the middle of the pond.
Torrey Pines has been good to several local home grown players with Mickelson winning three times, Greg Twiggs beating out Elkington, Faxon, and O’Meara to win in 1989, Craig Stadler taking first place in 1994, and Scott Simpson being victorious in 1998. In addition to these victories San Diegans Billy Casper, Gene Littler, John Schroeder, Mark Wiebe, Lon Hinkle, Lennie Clements, and Chris Riley have all had Top-10 finishes. Gene Littler is the only amateur to win a San Diego PGA TOUR tournament in 1954 prior to moving to Torrey Pines. And, Billy Casper also was victorious when the tournament was held at Stardust Country Club in 1966.
To those who played in the late 1950’s when Torrey Pines first opened, we thought the South Course was a real monster, but the professionals showed us it could be conquered and virtually demolished by the best players in the world who came to Torrey year after year.
The greens on both courses at Torrey Pines needed to be designed to have consistent drainage, so the City hired Billy Casper to oversee the redesign and restoration project in the late 1970’s. The courses stood the test of time until 2002 when a group of local San Diego golf enthusiasts, who named themselves “The Friends of Torrey Pines,” donated funds to the City to have a major renovation of the South Course by noted golf course architect Rees Jones. The main result of the South Course restoration project was the USGA selecting the course to host the 2008 U.S. Open. With the South Course being longer (7,604 yards), greens designed to be more challenging, new bunkers being strategically placed, and the normal USGA course set-up, par will be almost impossible in 2008.
It would be remiss if the City of San Diego and its Park and Recreation Department did not receive our eternal gratitude for allowing the PGA TOUR and the Century Club of San Diego (the host organization for the tournament) the privilege of utilizing Torrey Pines for the tournament this past 40 years. Their cooperation and dedication to have the courses in the best condition each and every year is exemplary.
Norrie West was the Public Relations Director for the first two Andy Williams San Diego Open in 1968 and 1969. Then he served as the Executive Director of the Century Club and Tournament Director from 1970-1979. Norrie also helped to found the annual Junior World Championships and served as its chairman for 23 years.