Kemper Open
The Kemper Open was a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour held annually from 1968 to 2006, primarily in the eastern United States, and was notable for its changes in venue across four different courses during its 39-year run.[1] The event began at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts, where Arnold Palmer secured the inaugural victory in 1968.[1] Throughout its history, the tournament shifted locations multiple times, starting with a one-year stint in Massachusetts before moving to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, for eleven consecutive years from 1969 to 1979, where it drew strong fields and produced memorable finishes, including Dale Douglass's wire-to-wire win in 1969 and Tom Weiskopf's three triumphs in 1971, 1973, and 1977.[2] Subsequent venues included Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland (1980–1986), where Raymond Floyd claimed victory in 1975 with a final-round 69, and the Blue Course at TPC Avenel in Potomac, Maryland, which hosted the event for its final twenty years from 1987 to 2006.[1][3] Sponsored by Kemper Insurance for its first 35 editions until 2002, the tournament saw name changes in its later years, becoming the FBR Capital Open from 2003 to 2004 and the Booz Allen Classic for 2005 and 2006, before being discontinued as part of a PGA Tour schedule reorganization.[4] It produced 32 unique winners, including Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, and Raymond Floyd, as well as multiple victories by Greg Norman (1984 and 1986) and Craig Stadler (1981 and 1982), with Fred Couples earning his first PGA Tour title in a five-man playoff in 1983.[1] The event was often characterized by its challenging layouts and role as a key mid-season stop, attracting top talent and contributing to career milestones for emerging stars.[5]Overview
Tournament Basics
The Kemper Open was an annual professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, contested from 1968 to 2006 for a total of 39 editions.[6] It served as a regular stop on the tour schedule, typically held in late spring or early summer along the East Coast, providing a key event between major championships.[7] The event followed the standard PGA Tour format of stroke play over 72 holes in four rounds, with players competing on courses that were typically par 71 or 72. In its final years at TPC at Avenel in Potomac, Maryland, the course measured 7,005 yards and played as par 71. A cut was made after 36 holes to the top 70 players and ties, allowing the lowest-scoring competitors to advance to the weekend rounds.[8][9] The tournament's purse evolved dramatically over its history, reflecting the growth of professional golf, from approximately $150,000 in its 1968 debut—when the winner earned $30,000—to $5 million in 2006, with the victor's share reaching $900,000.[10][11] The inaugural edition took place at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts.[12]Sponsorship Evolution
The Kemper Open was established in 1968 under the title sponsorship of Kemper Insurance, a Chicago-based company that committed to the event for 35 consecutive years, making it the longest-running title sponsorship on the PGA Tour at the time. The inaugural purse totaled $150,000, with winner Arnold Palmer receiving $30,000. Over the decades, Kemper's backing supported steady financial growth, as the tournament's purse expanded significantly; by the 1970s, it ranked among the tour's highest-paying events, and it reached $3.6 million by the 2002 edition, with $648,000 to the champion. This progression underscored Kemper's role in elevating the event's status through consistent corporate investment in professional golf. In April 2003, Kemper Insurance announced its withdrawal as title sponsor, citing economic challenges including a $312 million loss in 2002, ending the long-term partnership. The tournament was briefly rebranded as the Capital Open before securing sponsorship from FBR Capital Markets, an investment banking firm, and relaunching as the FBR Capital Open that year at TPC Avenel with a record $4.5 million purse, of which $810,000 went to winner Rory Sabbatini. Booz Allen Hamilton, a global management and technology consulting firm based in McLean, Virginia, assumed title sponsorship in 2004 for a three-year deal, renaming the event the Booz Allen Classic. The purse increased to $4.8 million for the 2004 edition, rising to $5 million in both 2005 and 2006, with $900,000 awarded to the winner in the final year. These sponsorship transitions in the early 2000s aligned with broader PGA Tour trends toward larger purses and heightened corporate involvement, reflecting the event's adaptation to competitive scheduling and financial demands.History
Origins in 1968
The Kemper Open was established in 1968 as a new addition to the PGA Tour schedule, sponsored by Kemper Insurance to bring professional golf to the Northeast region. The inaugural event took place at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts, from September 12 to 15, marking the tournament's debut as one of the tour's emerging stops.[6][10] The total purse was $150,000, reflecting the growing financial commitments of the era's tournaments aimed at attracting top talent and expanding the tour's footprint beyond traditional southern and western venues.[13] Arnold Palmer claimed victory in the first Kemper Open, carding rounds of 69-70-70-67 for a tournament total of 12-under-par 276, securing a four-shot margin over runners-up Bruce Crampton and Art Wall Jr. His final-round 67, featuring an eagle and five birdies, propelled him past the field after a season marked by earlier struggles, including multiple missed cuts. Palmer's win, as one of golf's biggest stars at the time, immediately elevated the event's profile, drawing significant attention and underscoring its potential as a key draw for elite players on the tour.[14][15] The tournament's single-year hosting at Pleasant Valley set a pattern of venue changes for the Kemper Open, as it relocated to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 1969 edition. This brief stint in Massachusetts highlighted the logistical considerations of scheduling PGA Tour events in varied regional settings, though the exact factors prompting the move were not publicly detailed at the time. The inaugural success, nonetheless, laid the groundwork for the tournament's longevity over nearly four decades.[6][16]Quail Hollow Era (1969–1979)
Following its inaugural event in 1968, the Kemper Open relocated to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it remained for 11 consecutive years from 1969 to 1979, providing stability during a formative period for the tournament.[7][17] The Quail Hollow course, designed by architect George Cobb and opened in 1961, played as a par-72 layout measuring approximately 7,000 yards during this era, featuring tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and water hazards on several holes that demanded precision and course management from players.[7][17] The tournament experienced significant growth, with the purse starting at $150,000 in the early years and expanding to $250,000 by 1974 and over $300,000 by 1979, which helped draw strong fields including multiple major champions such as Tom Weiskopf, Raymond Floyd, and Lee Trevino.[7][17] This decade at Quail Hollow notably boosted regional interest in professional golf across the Carolinas, establishing Charlotte as a viable Tour destination and attracting large local crowds to witness high-level competition.[17][7] Key highlights included Tom Weiskopf's dominance, securing victories in 1971, 1973, and 1977, with his 1973 win as part of a remarkable season in which he secured five PGA Tour victories over an eight-week span.[7][17][18]Washington D.C. Area Venues (1980–2006)
Following the Kemper Open's relocation from Quail Hollow Club, the tournament found a new home in the Washington, D.C., suburbs at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, where it was held from 1980 to 1986.[19] This prestigious venue, known for its challenging Blue Course designed by Devereux Emmet and later renovated by Robert Trent Jones Sr., provided a rigorous test with tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and fast greens that demanded precision from the field's top players.[20] John Mahaffey captured the inaugural edition at Congressional in 1980, setting a tone for competitive play amid the course's demanding layout. In 1987, the event shifted to the newly opened TPC at Avenel in nearby Potomac, Maryland, a purpose-built PGA Tour course designed by Ed Ault and Tom Clark with input from player consultant Ed Sneed.[21] This move aligned with the PGA Tour's strategy to develop proprietary venues, offering a par-71 layout stretching over 7,000 yards with rolling terrain, water hazards on 12 holes, and narrow, tree-lined fairways that prioritized shot-making accuracy and course management over raw power.[22] Tom Kite won the first Kemper Open at Avenel, defeating a strong field and highlighting the course's emphasis on strategic play.[23] Avenel served as the tournament's primary venue for the majority of its D.C.-area tenure, hosting the event annually from 1987 to 2004 and establishing itself as a consistent stop on the PGA Tour schedule.[24] The course's design, featuring elevation changes, Potomac River views, and penal rough, rewarded players who excelled in iron play and putting, with multiple winners like Fred Couples navigating its demands successfully over the years. This period marked a stabilization for the tournament in the region, drawing consistent crowds and integrating into the local golf scene despite the urban proximity requiring careful logistical planning. To accommodate renovations at Avenel, the tournament returned to Congressional Country Club for the 2005 edition, then known as the Booz Allen Classic.[25] Sergio Garcia claimed victory on the Blue Course that year, benefiting from a layout adjusted for the event and avoiding the typical Avenel challenges.[26] The one-year hiatus allowed for updates to Avenel's infrastructure, including bunker and green revisions, to enhance playability and spectator experience. The Kemper Open concluded its run at Avenel in 2006, with Ben Curtis securing the win amid operational hurdles common to the D.C. area, including weather disruptions like rain delays that extended play into Monday.[27] The venue's location near the capital also necessitated scheduling adjustments around major political events, such as coordinating with national observances to minimize conflicts and ensure smooth operations.[28] Over its 18 editions at Avenel from 1987 to 2004 plus the finale, the course solidified the tournament's legacy in the suburbs, blending elite competition with regional appeal before the event's discontinuation.[24]Discontinuation in 2006
The 2006 Booz Allen Classic, held at TPC Avenel in Potomac, Maryland, marked the final edition of the tournament, with Ben Curtis securing a five-stroke victory after persistent rain delays forced the conclusion to Tuesday, June 27—the first such Tuesday finish on the PGA Tour in 26 years.[29] Play had been suspended multiple times, including on the final day when Curtis held a seven-stroke lead on the 17th green, and no spectators were permitted for the resumption due to inadequate insurance coverage for a weekday finish.[30] The event's discontinuation stemmed primarily from title sponsor Booz Allen Hamilton's decision not to renew its three-year agreement, prompted by the PGA Tour's announcement in January 2006 to relocate the tournament from its traditional June slot to the fall schedule starting in 2007.[31] Booz Allen Chairman Ralph Shrader cited the shift as conflicting with the company's vision for a premier summer event, despite having invested around $30 million since 2004; the firm agreed to a reduced secondary sponsorship role at $1 million annually thereafter for hospitality purposes.[32] This loss of title sponsorship, combined with ongoing critiques of TPC Avenel's course layout and the Tour's broader scheduling adjustments to accommodate renovations, rendered the event unsustainable in its planned fall format.[31] In the immediate aftermath, the PGA Tour discontinued the Booz Allen Classic on July 6, 2006, just weeks after Curtis's win, and replaced it in the June calendar with the inaugural AT&T National in 2007 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland—a new invitational event hosted by Tiger Woods with a shifted focus on charity and a limited field.[33] Over its 39-year run from 1968 to 2006, the tournament had bolstered professional golf's presence in the mid-Atlantic region by attracting top players and large crowds, though no formal revival efforts have materialized since its end.[34]Format and Records
Playing Format
The Kemper Open was conducted as a standard 72-hole stroke play tournament on the PGA Tour, featuring a field of 156 players drawn from exempt status, sponsor exemptions, and Monday qualifiers.[35][36] After the initial 36 holes, the field was cut to the low 70 scores and ties, with a maximum of 78 players advancing to the weekend rounds; if more than 78 players qualified under the top 70 and ties provision, the cut line was adjusted to include only those within 10 strokes of the leader after 36 holes.[9] Competition typically spanned four days, with tee times beginning on Thursday morning and concluding after the final pairings on Sunday afternoon.[37] In the event of a tie for the lead after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff was employed, beginning on the par-3 16th hole at TPC Avenel Farm during the tournament's later years there (1987–2006), before proceeding to subsequent holes if necessary.[38] Prior to that venue, playoffs followed the standard PGA Tour sudden-death format without specified starting holes. Pro-amateur events were held on Wednesday, pairing professionals with amateurs or sponsors, while official practice rounds were available from Wednesday through Saturday to allow players to familiarize themselves with the course layout and conditions.[39] Weather disruptions occasionally altered the schedule throughout the tournament's history. In its early years at various venues, heavy rain led to Monday finishes on multiple occasions to complete suspended rounds.[40] Similarly, the 2006 edition at TPC Avenel concluded on a Tuesday following repeated thunderstorms that halted play on Sunday and Monday, marking the first such extension for a PGA Tour event in 26 years.[29] These adaptations ensured the full 72 holes were played while prioritizing player and spectator safety.Venue Specifications
The Kemper Open's venues each presented distinct architectural challenges that influenced strategic play, demanding a blend of power, accuracy, and course management from participants. The tournament's debut in 1968 took place at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts, on a par-72 layout stretching 6,800 yards. This tree-lined New England design, with its rolling terrain and strategically placed hazards, rewarded controlled shots and favored players adept at navigating tight fairways amid dense foliage, often turning the course into a test of patience over raw distance.[16] From 1969 to 1979, the event shifted to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring a par-71 course exceeding 7,000 yards. Designed by George Cobb with later modifications, the layout incorporated undulating greens and water hazards, but its signature "Green Mile"—the grueling par-4 16th, par-3 17th, and par-4 18th holes—proved pivotal, with the 17th's island green and the 18th's creek-lined approach forcing conservative play and punishing errant shots to elevate drama in final rounds.[41] Congressional Country Club's Blue Course hosted the Kemper Open from 1980 to 1986 and again in 2005, configured as a par-71 measuring 7,100 yards. Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s 1957 redesign introduced significant elevation changes, deep bunkers, and fast, sloping greens that amplified the course's parkland character, compelling players to adapt to uphill lies and downhill putts while the varied topography shaped approach angles and risk assessment on longer par-4s.[42] The longest tenure occurred at TPC at Avenel (now TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm) in Potomac, Maryland, from 1987 to 2004 and in 2006, on a par-71 layout of 6,889 yards. Ed Ault's design, refined for PGA Tour play, prioritized accuracy with narrow, tree-framed fairways averaging under 30 yards wide in key landing areas and severely contoured greens that featured sharp tiers and run-offs, often leading to higher scores and emphasizing short-game proficiency over driver length.[43]Performance Records
The Kemper Open produced several notable performance benchmarks over its 39-year history, particularly in scoring due to the par-71 layouts at venues like Quail Hollow Club and TPC Avenel Farm, which often favored aggressive play and low totals. These records highlight the tournament's reputation for birdie-friendly conditions, with multiple instances of exceptional rounds and tournament aggregates that tied or set marks for the event.[6] The lowest 72-hole total stands at 263 (21 under par), first set by Billy Andrade and Jeff Sluman in 1991 at TPC Avenel Farm, where both players finished tied before Andrade won in a playoff. This mark was matched by Adam Scott in 2004 at the same venue, where he closed with a 68 for a four-stroke victory.[44][45] The lowest single-round score is 61 (10 under par), achieved on multiple occasions, including by Jerry McGee in the opening round of the 1979 edition at Quail Hollow Club and by Charles Howell III in the first round of the 2004 Booz Allen Classic (the tournament's final name) at TPC Avenel Farm. These rounds exemplified the scoring opportunities presented by the courses' design, with McGee's performance setting a then-course record.[46][47]| Record Category | Score | Player(s) | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 72-hole total | 263 (-21) | Billy Andrade, Jeff Sluman | 1991 | TPC Avenel Farm |
| Lowest 72-hole total | 263 (-21) | Adam Scott | 2004 | TPC Avenel Farm |
| Lowest single round | 61 (-10) | Jerry McGee | 1979 | Quail Hollow Club |
| Lowest single round | 61 (-10) | Charles Howell III | 2004 | TPC Avenel Farm |
Winners and Highlights
Complete List of Champions
The Kemper Open was contested 39 times from 1968 through 2006, with no cancellations.[51][6] The following table provides a complete list of champions, their scores, venues, dates, and margins of victory or playoff results.| Year | Winner | Score (to par) | Venue | Dates | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Arnold Palmer | 276 (-12) | Pleasant Valley CC, Sutton, MA | Sept 12-15 | Won by 4-shot margin |
| 1969 | Dale Douglass | 274 (-14) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 19-22 | Won by 4-shot margin |
| 1970 | Dick Lotz | 278 (-10) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 4-7 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1971 | Tom Weiskopf | 277 (-11) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 10-13 | Defeated Dale Douglass, Gary Player, Lee Trevino in playoff |
| 1972 | Doug Sanders | 275 (-13) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 1-4 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1973 | Tom Weiskopf | 271 (-17) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | May 31-Jun 3 | Won by 3-shot margin |
| 1974 | Bob Menne | 270 (-18) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | May 30-Jun 2 | Defeated Jerry Heard in playoff |
| 1975 | Raymond Floyd | 278 (-10) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 5-8 | Won by 3-shot margin |
| 1976 | Joe Inman | 277 (-11) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 10-13 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1977 | Tom Weiskopf | 277 (-11) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 2-5 | Won by 2-shot margin |
| 1978 | Andy Bean | 273 (-15) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | June 1-4 | Won by 5-shot margin |
| 1979 | Jerry McGee | 272 (-16) | Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC | May 31-Jun 3 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1980 | John Mahaffey | 275 (-13) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | May 29-Jun 1 | Won by 3-shot margin |
| 1981 | Craig Stadler | 270 (-18) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | May 28-31 | Won by 6-shot margin |
| 1982 | Craig Stadler | 275 (-13) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | June 3-6 | Won by 7-shot margin |
| 1983 | Fred Couples | 287 (-1) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | June 2-5 | Defeated T.C. Chen, Barry Jaeckel, Gil Morgan, Scott Simpson in playoff |
| 1984 | Greg Norman | 280 (-8) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | May 31-Jun 3 | Won by 5-shot margin |
| 1985 | Bill Glasson | 278 (-10) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | May 30-Jun 2 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1986 | Greg Norman | 277 (-11) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | May 29-Jun 1 | Defeated Larry Mize in playoff |
| 1987 | Tom Kite | 270 (-14) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 4-7 | Won by 7-shot margin |
| 1988 | Morris Hatalsky | 274 (-10) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | Jun 2-5 | Defeated Tom Kite in playoff |
| 1989 | Tom Byrum | 268 (-16) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 1-4 | Won by 5-shot margin |
| 1990 | Gil Morgan | 274 (-10) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 31-Jun 3 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1991 | Billy Andrade | 263 (-21) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 30-Jun 2 | Defeated Jeff Sluman in playoff |
| 1992 | Bill Glasson | 276 (-8) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 28-31 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1993 | Grant Waite | 275 (-9) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 20-23 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1994 | Mark Brooks | 271 (-13) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 2-5 | Won by 3-shot margin |
| 1995 | Lee Janzen | 272 (-12) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 8-11 | Defeated Corey Pavin in playoff |
| 1996 | Steve Stricker | 270 (-14) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 23-26 | Won by 3-shot margin |
| 1997 | Justin Leonard | 274 (-10) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 5-8 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1998 | Stuart Appleby | 274 (-10) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 4-7 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 1999 | Rich Beem | 274 (-10) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 27-30 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 2000 | Tom Scherrer | 271 (-13) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 1-4 | Won by 2-shot margin |
| 2001 | Frank Lickliter II | 268 (-16) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 24-27 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 2002 | Bob Estes | 273 (-11) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | May 30-Jun 2 | Won by 1-shot margin |
| 2003 | Rory Sabbatini | 270 (-14) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 5-8 | Won by 2-shot margin |
| 2004 | Adam Scott | 263 (-21) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 24-27 | Won by 4-shot margin |
| 2005 | Sergio Garcia | 270 (-14) | Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD | June 9-12 | Won by 2-shot margin |
| 2006 | Ben Curtis | 264 (-20) | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, MD | June 22-25 | Won by 5-shot margin |