The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event in the 1960s in San Francisco, California. It was played at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky Lager Brewing Company.
Following surgery on his hands the previous summer, San Francisco native Ken Venturi won his 14th and final PGA Tour event here in January 1966, taking the first prize of $8,500 with his parents in the gallery. The deteriorating conditions and antiquated facilities at Harding Park caused the PGA Tour to leave at the end of the decade.
The final edition in 1969 was played in late October without the Lucky name and had a winner's share of $20,000. Steve Spray gained his only tour victory, one stroke ahead of runner-up Chi-Chi Rodríguez, the playoff winner in January 1964.
For its first six years, it was played in late January, the week after the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Not played in 1967, it was held in mid-autumn in 1968 and 1969.
Of the eight winners, six were major champions; five already and George Archer (1965) won his at the 1969 Masters.
Winners YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upWinner'sshare ($)Ref.San Francisco Open Invitational 1969 Steve Spray 269 −15 1 stroke Chi-Chi Rodríguez 20,000 Lucky International Open 1968 Billy Casper 269 −15 4 strokes Raymond Floyd Don Massengale 20,000 1967: No tournament 1966 Ken Venturi 273 −11 1 stroke Frank Beard 8,500 1965 George Archer 278 −6 Playoff Bob Charles 8,500 1964 Chi-Chi Rodríguez 272 −12 Playoff Don January 7,500 1963 Jack Burke Jr. 276 −8 3 strokes Don January 9,000 1962 Gene Littler 274 −10 2 strokes George Knudson 9,000 1961 Gary Player 272 −12 2 strokes George Bayer Don Whitt 9,000
References