The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event in Nevada from 1958 through 1976, played in Las Vegas and sponsored by the Sahara Hotel. In the first four years, it was the Sahara Pro-Am and an unofficial tour event. Paradise Valley Country Club hosted in 1970 and 1971, and Sahara Nevada Country Club from 1972–1976.
Jack Nicklaus won Sahara four times in a seven-year span in the 1960s, and three future major champions (Tony Lema, Lanny Wadkins, and John Mahaffey) made Sahara their first tour victory.
A month after the 1976 event, it was announced in early November that the Sahara Invitational was being discontinued. Edward M. Nigro, vice president and general manager of Hotel Sahara, cited rising costs, scheduling conflicts, and a decline in the national promotion benefit as the reasons for the tournament's cancellation.
The Las Vegas Founders returned the PGA Tour to Las Vegas in 1983 with the Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic; since 2007, it has been organized by the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Tournament highlights 1962: Tony Lema wins the inaugural Sahara Invitational, three shots ahead of Don January. 1964: R. H. Sikes shoots a first round 62 on his way to a two shot triumph over defending champion Jack Nicklaus, Phil Rodgers, and Jack McGowan.Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win 1967: Jack Nicklaus becomes the only Sahara champion to successfully defend his title. He wins by one shot over Steve Spray.Jack Nicklaus wins Sahara golf tourney 1968: Chi-Chi Rodríguez shoots a final round 64 to come from six shots back and force a sudden death playoff. He then birdies the first playoff hole to defeat Dale Douglass.Chi Chi wins Sahara 1969: Nicklaus shoots a final round 65 for his 29th PGA Tour title and fourth Sahara victory. He finishes four shots ahead of Frank Beard.Nicklaus wins Sahara event 1971: Lee Trevino wins his sixth PGA Tour event of the year, one shot ahead of George Archer.Trevino wins Sahara Open 1974: Al Geiberger wins for the first time on tour since his PGA Championship triumph in 1966; he finishes three shots ahead of Jerry Heard, Wally Armstrong, Mike Hill, and Dave Hill.Geiberger ends drought with Sahara Open victory 1976: Runner-up five years earlier, Archer wins the last Sahara, two strokes ahead of defending champion Dave Hill and third round leader Don January.
Winners YearTourWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upWinner'sshare ($)Sahara Invitational 1976 PGAT George Archer 271 −13 2 strokes Dave Hill Don January 27,000 1975 PGAT Dave Hill 270 −14 Playoff Rik Massengale 27,000 1974 PGAT Al Geiberger 273 −11 3 strokes Wally Armstrong Jerry Heard Dave Hill Mike Hill 27,000 1973 PGAT John Mahaffey 271 −13 3 strokes Dave Eichelberger 27,000 1972 PGAT Lanny Wadkins 273 −11 1 stroke Arnold Palmer 27,000 1971 PGAT Lee Trevino 280 −8 1 stroke George Archer 27,000 1970 PGAT Babe Hiskey 276 −12 1 stroke Miller Barber Terry Dill Bob Goalby 20,000 1969 PGAT Jack Nicklaus (4) 272 −12 4 strokes Frank Beard 20,000 1968 PGAT Chi-Chi Rodríguez 274 −10 Playoff Dale Douglass 20,000 1967 PGAT Jack Nicklaus (3) 270 −14 1 stroke Steve Spray 20,000 1966 PGAT Jack Nicklaus (2) 282 −2 3 strokes Miller Barber Arnold Palmer 20,000 1965 PGAT Billy Casper 269 −15 3 strokes Billy Martindale 20,000 1964 PGAT R. H. Sikes 275 −9 3 strokes Jack McGowan Jack Nicklaus Phil Rodgers 12,000 1963 PGAT Jack Nicklaus 276 −8 1 stroke Gay Brewer Al Geiberger 13,000 1962 Tony Lema 270 −14 3 strokes Don January 2,800Sahara Pro-Am 1961 Phil Rodgers 1960 Bob Duden 1959 Doug Sanders 1958 Bill Johnston
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References
External links 1970-1976 Results and stats on The Sahara Invitational