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.

Sahara Invitational
Tournament information
LocationLas Vegas, Nevada
Established1958
Course(s)Sahara Nevada Country Club
Par71
Length6,800 yards (6,200 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$135,000
Month playedSeptember/October
Final year1976
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Billy Casper (1965)
To par−15 as above
Final champion
United States George Archer
Location map
Sahara Nevada CC is located in the United States
Sahara Nevada CC
Sahara Nevada CC
Location in the United States
Sahara Nevada CC is located in Nevada
Sahara Nevada CC
Sahara Nevada CC
Location in Nevada

Jack Nicklaus won Sahara four times in a seven-year span in the 1960s, and three future major champions (Tony Lema,[2] Lanny Wadkins, and John Mahaffey) made Sahara their first tour victory.

A month after the 1976 event,[1] 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.[3]

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

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Winners

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Year Tour[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)
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 PGAT   Tony Lema 270 −14 3 strokes   Don January 2,800
Sahara Pro-Am
1961   Phil Rodgers  
1960   Bob Duden  
1959   Doug Sanders  
1958   Bill Johnston  

Notes

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  1. ^ PGAT − PGA Tour.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sahara victory surprises Archer". The Day. New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. October 4, 1976. p. 29.
  2. ^ a b "Lema victor at Las Vegas with a 270". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 1, 1962. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Sahara golf no more". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. November 5, 1976. p. 1B.
  4. ^ Dick Sikes breaks in with Sahara golf win
  5. ^ Jack Nicklaus wins Sahara golf tourney
  6. ^ Chi Chi wins Sahara
  7. ^ Nicklaus wins Sahara event
  8. ^ Trevino wins Sahara Open
  9. ^ Geiberger ends drought with Sahara Open victory
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