Miami International Four-Ball Golf Tournament
First played: 1924
Last played: 1954
The Miami International Four-Ball was a team tournament: Golfers paired up in twosomes in order to play (as the name states) the four-ball format. Four ball means that each golfer in a team of two plays his own ball from tee to green; the low score of the two golfers counts as the team score on each hole. In addition, the four-ball in this event was played at match play, rather than stroke play. So the Miami International Four Ball stands out in PGA Tour history for its format. (Although note that not every year of the tournament's history is counted today by the PGA Tour as an official tour event.)
The format was tweaked several times over the years. It began with just eight teams, expanded to 16 teams in 1926 and to 32 teams in 1950. In 1954, the format changed from match play to stroke play, with 40 teams still playing four-ball.
The team of Henry Picard/Johnny Revolta was the only twosome to win three times. And they did it in consecutive years: 1935-1937. Ben Hogan was in the winner's circle three times, first with Gene Sarazen as his partner in 1941. That was Sarazen's 38th and final win on the PGA Tour. (Hogan also won twice with Jimmy Demaret as his partner.)
In 1945, Byron Nelson won with partner Jug McSpaden. That victory was the first in Nelson's record 11-consecutive-wins streak, and the fourth of his record-setting 18 overall wins that year.
Winners of the Miami International Four-Ball
1924 — Bill Mehlhorn/Macdonald Smith1925 — Bobby Cruickshank/Johnny Farrell
1926 — Bill Mehlhorn/Macdonald Smith
1927 — Tommy Armour/Bobby Cruickshank
1928 — Johnny Farrell/Gene Sarazen
1929 — Leo Diegel/Walter Hagen
1930 — Clarence Gamber/Cyril Walker
1931 — Wiffy Cox/Willie Macfarlane
1932 — Tommy Armour/Ed Dudley
1933 — Paul Runyan/Horton Smith
1934 — Al Espinosa/Denny Shute
1935 — Henry Picard/Johnny Revolta
1936 — Henry Picard/Johnny Revolta
1937 — Henry Picard/Johnny Revolta
1938 — Ky Laffoon/Dick Metz
1939 — Ralph Guldahl/Sam Snead
1940 — Billy Burke/Craig Wood
1941 — Ben Hogan/Gene Sarazen
1942 — Chandler Harper/Herman Keiser
1943-44 — Not played
1945 — Jug McSpaden/Byron Nelson
1946 — Jimmy Demaret/Ben Hogan
1947 — Jimmy Demaret/Ben Hogan
1948 — Jim Ferrier/Cary Middlecoff
1949 — Jim Ferrier/Cary Middlecoff
1950 — Pete Cooper/Claude Harmon
1951 — Not played
1952 — Ted Kroll/Lew Worsham
1953 — No tournament
1954 — Tommy Bolt/Dick Mayer
Also known as: Miami Beach International Four-Ball and Miami Biltmore International Four-Ball
Golf Courses: These tournaments took place most often at the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami. Two other courses also served as the site on occasion: Miami Biltmore Golf Course (Coral Gables) and Normandy Shore Club (Miami Beach).
