1958 - Billy Casper wins $9,000 first prize at the inaugural Buick Open,
which had the largest purse on the PGA tour ($52,000).
1958 - Buick becomes the first corporate sponsor of the PGA Tour.
1963 - Julius Boros becomes the only wire-to-wire winner in Buick Open
history.
1965 - Buick Open purse reaches $100,000.
1965 - Tony Lema wins his second consecutive Buick Open, still the only
back-to-back victories.
1967 - Julius Boros becomes the second repeat winner in Buick Open history.
1969 - Dave Hill becomes the first Michigan native to win the tournament.
1979 - John Fought is the first PGA Tour rookie to win the Buick Open.
1984 - Buick becomes the official car of the PGA Tour.
1987 - Robert Wrenn shoots a Buick Open tournament record (262) that still
stands.
1987 - Dewey Arnette ties a PGA Tour record at the Buick Open with eight
consecutive birdies.
1988 - Buick signs Ben Crenshaw to endorsement pact.
1989 - Buick Open purse reaches $1 million.
1990 - Buick takes over title sponsorship of the Buick Southern Open in Pine
Mountain, Ga. and the Buick Classic in Harrison, New York.
1990 - Kirk Triplett sets Buick Classic record for nine holes (29).
1992 - Buick becomes title sponsor of Buick Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.
1992 - Buick signs Chip Beck to endorsement pact.
1994 - Buick signs Steve Elkington to endorsement pact.
1995 - Ben Crenshaw wins his second Masters Tournament.
1995 - Steve Elkington records his first million dollar season ($1,254,352).
1995 - Buick Challenge purse reaches $1 million.
1995 - Vijay Singh wins longest playoff (5 holes) in Buick Classic history
vs. Doug Martin.
1995 - Buick Southern Open is renamed the Buick Challenge.
1996 - Chip Beck takes over first place on the all-time Buick Open earnings
list ($455,571).
1996 - Justin Leonard becomes the last player to win a tournament (Buick
Open) in which he scored a hole-in-one.
1996 - Buick Invitational purse reaches $1,200,000.
1996 - Ernie Els becomes third wire-to-wire winner in Buick Classic history.
1997 - Crenshaw named captain of U.S. Ryder Cup Team.
1997 - Tiger Woods plays in his first Buick Open.
1997 - Buick goes over $13 million mark in charity donations.
1997 - Buick signs David Berganio, Jr. to endorsement pact.
1997 - Buick signs Cheryl Ladd as Buick Golf Ambassador.
1997 - Buick Invitational purse reaches $1.5 million.
1997 - Ernie Els becomes fourth two-time winner and first back-to-back winner
of Buick Classic.
1997 - Buick Classic purse reaches $1.5 million.
1998 - Buick Invitational purse goes over $2 million mark. ($2.1).
1998 - Buick Open purse reaches $1.8 million.
1998 - Buick Classic purse reaches $1.8 million.
1998 - Buick Challenge purse reaches $1.5 million.
1998 - Buick celebrates its 40th anniversary of golf involvement.
1998 - Chip Beck surpasses $6 million mark in career earnings.
1998 - Steve Elkington wins Buick Challenge.
1999 - Buick Invitational purse reaches $2.7 million.
1999 - Buick Classic purse reaches $2.5 million.
1999 - Tiger Woods wins the Buick Invitational.
1999 – Buick Open purse reaches $2.4 million.
1999 – Buick Challenge purse reaches $1.5 million.
1999 – Buick signs Tiger Woods to endorsement pact.
2000 – Buick Invitational purse reaches $3 million.
2000 – Tiger Woods completes string of six straight PGA Tour victories, the
most since Ben Hogan in 1948.
2000 – Buick Open purse reaches $2.7 million.
2000 – Buick Challenge purse reaches $2.1 million.
2000 – Buick Classic purse reaches $2.8 million.
Buick is the original corporate sponsor of the PGA Tour and,
with four tournaments, title sponsor of the most PGA Tour events.
Buick is title sponsor of four PGA Tour tournaments:
- Buick Invitational:
Held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla,
Calif. (Feb. 7-13).
- Buick Classic:
Held at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.
(June 5-11).
- Buick Open:
Held at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand
Blanc, Mich. (Aug. 7-13).
- Buick Challenge:
Held at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.
(Sept. 25-Oct. 1).
Buick has helped raise more than $17 million for charities through
sponsorship of its four PGA Tour tournaments.
- Buick Invitational:
More than $2.2 million (since 1992) to
benefit the Save Our Sports Program, Junior Golf Association, Boys and Girls
Clubs, Pro Kids Golf, Assistance League of San Diego, YMCA, American Cancer
Society and other community and university sports programs.
- Buick Classic:
More than $10 million (since 1990) to benefit
the American Diabetes Association, United Hospital Medical Center and 11
other area hospitals and medical centers.
- Buick Open:
More than $4.2 million (since 1982) to benefit
the Easter Seal Society, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Whaley
Children's Center, local hospitals, and fine arts programs.
- Buick Challenge:
More than $750,000 (since 1990) to benefit
Boys and Girls Clubs and other youth and education organizations.
- Buick Touring Pros:
- Ben Crenshaw (since 1988)
- Chip
Beck (since 1992)
- Steve Elkington (since 1994)
- David
Berganio Jr. (since 1997)
- and Tiger Woods (since 1999)
- Buick Golf Ambassador: Cheryl Ladd (since 1997).
- Buick has been the official car of the PGA Tour since 1984.
- Buick is a sponsor of ESPN's weekly "Inside the PGA Tour"
program and "PGA Tour Shot of the Week" series.
- Buick is a sponsor of USA Network's coverage of the PGA Tour in
2000.
- Buick is an official sponsor of the domestic events for the World Golf
Championships through 2002
Source: Buick Motor Division
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