The Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour Champions. From 2014 to 2019, it was played at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri, on the par-3 Top of the Rock course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and the 18-hole Buffalo Ridge course, redesigned by Tom Fazio. The tournament was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, which owns the Big Cedar Lodge. It is often called "The tournament that launched the Champions Tour". Starting in 2018, a second par-3 course, Mountain Top, a 13-hole course designed by Gary Player, was added to the tournament, which has the oddity of being a 67-hole tournament.
From 1978 until 2012, it was known as the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. Prior to Big Cedar Lodge, it was played in Savannah, Georgia, at The Club at Savannah Harbor. Liberty Mutual was the main sponsor of the tournament.
In its final years, it consisted of two separate events using four-ball and alternate shot formats with two-man teams: the 67-hole Champions Division (age 50–65) and the 58-hole Legends Division (age 65+) (on the final day of the tournament, held at Top of the Rock, Legends played the course once, while Champions played the course twice). Only the Champions Division event was an official money/official victory event.
For 2002 to 2013, it consisted of three separate events: the Legends Division is a 54-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 50, the Raphael Division is a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men age 50–69, and the Demaret Division is a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 70. Only the Legends Division event was an official money/official victory event.
From 2014 until 2016, the tournament was held over 54 holes, one round at Buffalo Ridge, and four nine-hole rounds at Top of the Rock. In 2017, because of weather that washed out play and made the full Buffalo Ridge course unplayable, all 36 (or 27) holes were played at Top of the Rock, the first time a PGA Tour event was held exclusively on a Par 3 course.
The tournament was founded in 1978 and consisted of a 72-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 50. Its success provided impetus for the formation of the Senior PGA Tour in 1980. In 1987, a Legendary Division was added. This consisted of a 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 60. These teams also competed in the Legends Division - Charles Coody & Dale Douglass won both divisions in 1998. In 1993, the 36-hole Demaret Division (named after tournament co-founder Jimmy Demaret) was added for men over 70. For this year alone, all three divisions were competed at individual stroke play. In 2002 the Legends Division became an individual stroke play event and became an official money event on the Champions Tour. This format remained through 2007. The Legendary Division was renamed the Raphael Division (after tournament co-founder Fred Raphael who had died in 2001) and became the 36-hole two-man team better-ball event for men over 60.
The purse for the 2019 tournament was $1.8 million, with $171,000 going to each member of the winning team.
Tournament hosts The tournament has been played in several different locations since its founding.
YearsCourseCity2014–2019 Big Cedar Lodge Ridgedale, Missouri2003–2013 The Club at Savannah Harbor Savannah, Georgia1999–2002 World Golf Village (King & Bear courses) St. Augustine, Florida1998 Summer Beach Golf Resort Amelia Island, Florida1995–1997 PGA West (Stadium Course) La Quinta, California1990–1994 Barton Creek Conference Center Austin, Texas1978–1989 Onion Creek Club Austin, Texas
Team winners Champions Tour event (Legends Division 2002–2013, Champions Division 2014– ) Unofficial money event (Raphael Division 2002–2013, Demaret Division 2002–2013, Legends Division 2014–2017) Year Champions Division (50–65)Legends Division (65+) 2020 No tournament 2019 Scott Hoch & Tom Pernice Jr. 2018 Paul Broadhurst & Kirk Triplett 2017 Carlos Franco & Vijay Singh Allen Doyle & Hubert Green 2016 Michael Allen & Woody Austin Bruce Fleisher & Larry Nelson 2015 Billy Andrade & Joe Durant Bruce Fleisher & Larry Nelson 2014 Fred Funk & Jeff Sluman Jim Colbert & Jim Thorpe Year Legends Division (over 50's) Raphael Division (60–69) Demaret Division (over 70's) 2013 Brad Faxon & Jeff Sluman Ian Baker-Finch & Bart Bryant Jim Colbert & Bob Murphy 2012 Michael Allen & David Frost Mark James & Des Smyth Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead 2011 Mark McNulty & David Eger Mark James & Des Smyth Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead 2010 Mark O'Meara & Nick Price John Bland & Graham Marsh Gary Player & Bob Charles 2009 Bernhard Langer & Tom Lehman Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie Gary Player & Bob Charles 2008 Andy North & Tom Watson Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie Al Geiberger & Jimmy Powell 2007 Jay Haas Andy North & Tom Watson Butch Baird & Bobby Nichols 2006 Jay Haas Andy North & Tom Watson Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell 2005 Des Smyth Andy North & Tom Watson Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell 2004 Hale Irwin Bob Charles & Stewart Ginn Don January & Gene Littler 2003 Bruce Lietzke Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie Miller Barber & Jim Ferree 2002 Doug Tewell Bruce Lietzke & Bill Rogers Miller Barber & Jim Ferree Unofficial money event (1978–2001) Year Legends Division (over 50's) Legendary Division (over 60's) Demaret Division (over 70's) 2001 Jim Colbert & Andy North Jim Albus & Simon Hobday Don January & Gene Littler 2000 Jim Colbert & Andy North Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford 1999 Hubert Green & Gil Morgan Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford 1998 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford 1997 John Bland & Graham Marsh Don January & Gene Littler George Bayer & Jim Ferree 1996 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell Doug Ford & Art Wall Jr. 1995 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell Tommy Bolt & Jack Fleck 1994 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Don January & Gene Littler Al Balding & Jay Hebert 1992 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski 1991 Mike Hill & Lee Trevino Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford 1990 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski 1989 Al Geiberger & Harold Henning Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford 1988 Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford 1987 Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody Jerry Barber & Doug Ford 1986 Don January & Gene Littler 1985 Don January & Gene Littler 1984 Gay Brewer & Billy Casper 1983 Roberto De Vicenzo & Rod Funseth 1982 Don January & Sam Snead 1981 Gene Littler & Bob Rosburg 1980 Tommy Bolt & Art Wall Jr. 1979 Julius Boros & Roberto De Vicenzo 1978 Gardner Dickinson & Sam Snead
Individual winners Year Winner Tournament Margin of victory Runner-up 1993 Harold Henning Legends of Golf Legends Division Playoff Don January, Tom Weiskopf1993 Don January Legends of Golf Legendary Division 2 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo, Gay Brewer1993 Jerry Barber Legends of Golf Demaret Division 10 strokes Kel Nagle
Multiple winners The following teams have won multiple times through 2017:
Team Total Legends/Champions Raphael/Legends DemaretDon January & Gene Littler 6 2 2 2Mike Hill & Lee Trevino 5 4 1 Orville Moody & Jimmy Powell 5 3 2Andy North & Tom Watson 4 1 3 Charles Coody & Dale Douglass 3 2 1 Roberto De Vicenzo & Charlie Sifford 3 3 Gary Koch & Roger Maltbie 3 3 Joe Jimenez & Charlie Sifford 3 3Jim Colbert & Andy North 2 2 Bruce Crampton & Orville Moody 2 2 John Bland & Graham Marsh 2 1 1 Mike Fetchick & Bob Toski 2 2 Mark James & Des Smyth 2 2 Miller Barber & Jim Ferree 2 2Gibby Gilbert & J. C. Snead 2 2Gary Player & Bob Charles 2 2Larry Nelson & Bruce Fleisher 2 2
The following individuals have won multiple times (as part of a team or individually) through 2017:
Player Total Legends/Champions Raphael/Legends DemaretDon January 8 3 3 2Gene Littler 7 3 2 2Orville Moody 7 2 3 2Andy North 6 3 3 Jimmy Powell 6 3 3Charlie Sifford 6 3 3Mike Hill 5 4 1 Lee Trevino 5 4 1 Roberto De Vicenzo 5 2 3 Charles Coody 4 3 1 Dale Douglass 4 3 1 Jim Colbert 4 2 1 1Tom Watson 4 1 3 Des Smyth 3 1 2 Gary Koch 3 3 Roger Maltbie 3 3 Bob Charles 3 1 2Jim Ferree 3 3Joe Jimenez 3 3Michael Allen 2 2 Bruce Crampton 2 2 Jay Haas 2 2 Harold Henning 2 2 Jeff Sluman 2 2 Sam Snead 2 2 John Bland 2 1 1 Hubert Green 2 1 1 Bruce Lietzke 2 1 1 Graham Marsh 2 1 1 Tommy Bolt 2 1 1Al Geiberger 2 1 1Art Wall Jr. 2 1 1Mike Fetchick 2 2 Mark James 2 2 Bob Toski 2 2 Jerry Barber 2 1 1Doug Ford 2 1 1Miller Barber 2 2Gibby Gilbert 2 2Gary Player 2 2J. C. Snead 2 2
References
External links
Coverage on the PGA Tour Champions official site