Photos: Tucson Open golf moments, 1945-2006
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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The Tucson Open was a PGA Tour event from 1945-2006 that brought top golfers to the city, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller and Phil Mickelson.
For the first 18 years, the event was held at the El Rio Golf & Country Club (now El Rio Golf Course). It moved to Forty Niner Country Club in 1963 for two years, then to Tucson National Golf Club through 1978. It spent one year Randolph Park Golf Course in 1979, went back to Tucson National in 1980, then back to Randolph.
From 1984-86, the Tucson Open was contested at match play and held concurrently with the Seiko-Tucson Senior Match Play Championship.
In 1987-88, the Open moved to TPC at Starr Pass, then took a year hiatus. From 1990-96, it was at two courses, Starr Pass and Tucson National. In 1990 it shared time at Randolph instead of Tucson National. It remained at Tucson National until 2006.
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Tommy "Thunder" Bolt during the 1953 Tucson Open at Randolph, which he won that year. Bolt was a WWII vet who joined the tour later in life, but won 15 Tour titles.
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Pro golfer Lee Trevino hugs actor Billy Barty during the 1969 Tucson Open.
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Robert Gamez reacts to a putt during the Tucson Open on Jan. 13, 1990. He opened with a one-shot lead on the third round then won the final round by four shots.
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Legendary golfer and athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias on the 6th green at El Rio during the 1945 Tucson Open.
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Tucson Open winner Johnny Miller, left, accepts a $40,000 check from host Dean Martin during the 1975 Tucson Open. Miller shot a record of 61 and overall score of 263, 25-under par at Tucson National. He won in 1974 and 1976, as well.
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Billy Barty gets a laugh from Tucson Open host Joe Garagiola during the pro-am festivities in 1983.
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Actor James Garner ("The Rockford Files") signing autographs during the the 1977 Joe Garagiola Tucson Open.
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J.C. Snead, winner of the Tucson Open in 1971 with barefoot wife Suzie.
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Sportscaster and former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Joe Garagiola winces as a ringtail cat from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is perched on his head during the pro-am portion of the 1982 Joe Garagiola Tucson Open golf tournament on Jan. 7, 1982.
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Bill Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Phil Murphy, Dorothy Fowler and Bill Darrell watch the 1970 Tucson Open Pro Am at Tucson National.
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Ben Hogan, Bobby Locke and Jimmy Demaret during the 1947 Tucson Open.
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Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson, "Mr. October," during the 1974 Tucson Open pro-am with catcher Ray Fosse of the Oakland A's.
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Jim Strong, Donald Campbell, Jim Hilkemeyer and Emil Malanga watch the 1970 Tucson Open Pro Am at Tucson National.
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Famous variety show host Lawrence Welk does the polka during the 1976 Tucson Open, sponsored by NBC-TV.
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Singer John Denver during a Tucson Open media event in 1991.
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"Handsome Dick" Metz as he strokes a putt at El Rio during the 1946 Tucson Open as Frank Stranahan (left) and Ben Hogan (middle) await their turn.
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NBA basketball player/manager Danny Ainge, left, teases actor Kevin Costner after Costner hit a good drive off the ninth tee during the Tucson Open Celebrity Pro-Am in 2000.
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John Risley (L) Barry Martin (middle) and John Handley (R) watch a drive during the third round of the Tucson Chrysler Classic at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa in 1997.
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Ken Venturi on the green during the Tucson Open at Randolph Golf Course on February 6, 1958
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Former Pres. Gerald Ford meets with members of Mariachi Cobre during a Tucson Open Pro-Am Awards Banquet on Feb. 14, 1979.
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Joe Garagiola and Hal Gras entertain the gallery at the Tucson Open.
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Johnny Miller sets record at the Final day at the 1975 Dean Martin Tucson Open.
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Crowd gathered for the Tucson Open Pro Am at Tucson National in 1970.
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Crowds at the 1970 Tucson Open at Tucson National.
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Lee Trevino dons the Conquistador helmet after winning the 1969 Tucson Open at Tucson National.
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Gallery at the 1969 Tucson Open at Tucson National.
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Lee Trevino sinks a putt during the 1969 Tucson Open.
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George Knudson, winner of the 1968 Tucson Open, has the Conquistador helmet placed on his head.
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Miller Barber accepts the Conquistador helmet for winning the 1972 Tucson Open.
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Legendary entertainer Bob Hope get tangled in television cables while he attempts to tee off during the 1979 Tucson Open Pro-AM at the Tucson National Country Club.
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Former UA football star, and current New England Patriot linebacker, Teddy Bruschi acknowledges a friend in the crowd Wednesday afternoon before he tees-off at the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open at Omni Tucson National in 2002.
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Arnold Palmer and Arnie's Army at the Tucson Open.
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Tucson Open at a barren-looking Tucson National course with new trees in 1969.
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South African golfer Bobby Locke on the 18th green at El Rio during the 1948 Tucson Open.
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Gabriel Hjertstedt reacts on his winning of final round of Tucson Open in 1999.
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Kirk Triplett celebrates as a tough chip shot drops in on the 17th hole for a birdie that put him in the lead of the Chrysler Classic in 2006. He held the lead to win.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
