Celebrating 100 years

DREAMS ACHIEVED

Beyond a legacy, the LA event has transpired into a tournament that embodies the dreams of young golfers. Fueled by a passion to one day compete on the greens, through each swing SoCal-native golfers Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler would achieve their lifelong goal.

From watching outside the ropes as a young fan, to making his professional PGA TOUR debut 1992, Tiger Woods (pictured right) now reigns the title of tournament host, intertwining two legacies unmatched.

Often referred to as “Tiger’s Event,” the iconic host adds to the honor of getting to play the field of top golfers on the course where legends are made. Growing up attending the events, Morikawa (pictured center-left), Fowler (pictured left) and Homa are now part of the elite field of top golfers who play the tournament. Homa (pictured center-right) would live out his ultimate childhood dream and become the champion of the 2021 Genesis Invitational.

Commissioned 2024 

AROUND LA

Holding the title of the home to LA’s most iconic tournament, The Riviera Country Club has hosted the event for the past six decades. However, the rich history of professional golf in the city of LA spans numerous courses that have hosted the tournament over the years.

Los Angeles Country Club set the tone for the legacy that would lie ahead, hosting the inaugural LA Open in 1926. The tournament featured the largest professional purse at the time, with $10,000 on the line. LACC (pictured bottom left) would host the event four more times, most recently in 1944.

The list of courses that have hosted the tournament stretches throughout LA. With one of the most recognizable backdrops of the city, the Wilshire Country Club (pictured top left) hosted the event four times: 1928, 1931, 933 and 1944. The Griffith Observatory (pictured bottom right) pays homage to Griffith Park (Wilson Course) who hosted the tournament from 1937-1939. Only Riviera has hosted the tournament more than Rancho Park Golf Course (17 times), most recently in 1983.

Commissioned 2024

RANCHO PARK YEARS

Rancho Park Golf Course was the stage during the LA Open for many legacy defining moments for golf icons.

On the list of victories to his name, Arnold Palmer (pictured right) won all three of his LA Opens at Rancho, becoming the third player in tournament history to win back-to-back tournaments.

Two years later in 1969, history would be made once again on Pico Boulevard. A significant moment in golf history, Charlie Sifford (pictured left) marked his second victory on the PGA TOUR with his win in the LA Open . Today, his legacy is continued each year through the annual Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption.

Commissioned 2024

TOURNAMENT FIRSTS

Beginning with a historic $10,000 purse, the tournament was started to bring publicity to the region. Using an automobile (pictured center left), event organizers promoted the new event in the community. In the 1930s and ‘40s, the tournament offered Babe Didrikson Zaharias an (pictured top left) exemption into the event and later saw Zaharias become the first woman to qualify for a PGA event.

Ted Rhodes (pictured bottom right) is often credited with becoming the first African American professional golfer. Rhodes, along with friend Bill Spiller, competed at Riviera several times, becoming more frequent than symbolic. In 1948, Rhodes and Spiller competed in the LA Open and U.S. Open at Riviera which helped spark the legal action that changed the PGA’s Caucasians-only clause.

In 1962, the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, won his first professional paycheck, earning $33.33 in the LA Open.

Among the most significant ‘firsts’ to happen in professional golf in Los Angeles, the PGA TOUR debut of Tiger Woods (pictured center) in 1992 is among the most significant. While Woods’ debut start is highly documented, his second career start also took place at Riviera in the 1993 LA Open.

Commissioned 2023

ICONIC CHAMPIONS

The list of champions in Los Angeles is iconic. Highlighted by the man who gave a nickname to Riviera: Ben Hogan (pictured center). With three LA Open victories to his name in 1942, ‘47 & ‘48, Hogan also won the 1948 U.S. Open at Riviera. With that, the club fondly became known as Hogan’s Alley. Today, you can see a statue of the iconic champion above 18 green.

Hogan’s three tournament victories are one short of the all-time record held by Macdonald Smith and Llyod Mangrum. Smith dominated the first decade of the event, winning four times in nine years. Mangrum (pictured bottom left) outdid Smith, winning four times in eight years in the 40s and 50s. During Mangrum’s decade of dominance, Byron Nelson (pictured top right) and Sam Snead (pictured bottom right) managed to find the top of the leaderboard as well. The two battled it out in the ‘40s with Snead besting Nelson in 1945 and Nelson returning the favor the following year.

Of all the iconic champions, the most significant is Charlie Sifford (pictured top left). The 1969 victory was Sifford’s second on the PGA TOUR. Sifford’s legacy lives on today with the annual Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption.

Commissioned 2023

THE RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB

Having first hosted the LA Open in 1929, The Riviera Country Club has hosted the event more than any other course. From the first playing of the tournament at Riviera to its 60th playing in 2023, the course has withstood the test of time. An iconic first tee shot (pictured center) to the natural amphitheater on the 18th green (pictured top), Riviera is top of the list of favorite courses for professionals and amateurs alike. With roots tracing back to Hollywood, you never know who you might see at the tournament. Never was that truer when Humphrey Bogart was spotted under the eucalyptus tree on 12 green (pictured bottom left).

Artist Jonas Never poses next to the painting of Riviera.

Commissioned 2023