North and South Open, Former PGA Tour Event

The North and South Open is a former PGA Tour golf tournament, played through the first half of the 20th century. For decades in the early history of professional golf in the United States, the North and South Open was one of the most important pro tournaments.

First played: 1902

Last played: 1951

Most of the greats of pre-1950s golf won the North and South, which was first played 14 years before the formation of the PGA of America, generally considered the starting point of the PGA Tour's history. In the early days, one family dominated the tournament: brothers Alex Ross and Donald Ross won all of the first seven tournaments. (And three times in those first seven tournaments, one Ross brother finished second to the other.) Alex Ross wound up winning it six times total (last in 1915), more than anyone else.

Three-time future major winner Cary Middlecoff won the North and South trophy while he was still an amateur, in 1945. It was the first of his 39 career wins on the PGA Tour.

Some other big names in tour history also earned their first victories in this event. In 1930, Paul Runyan earned the first of 29 career wins here. And in 1951, in the 50th and final North and South Open, Tommy Bolt claimed the first of his 15 career wins. Henry Picard (26 career wins) got his first solo trophy in the 1934 N&S, having previously tied two others for a 1932 win.

And in 1940, Ben Hogan won the North and South for his first (of an eventual 64) individual PGA Tour victory. He had previously only won a team tournament with partner Vic Ghezzi in the 1938 Hershey Four-Ball.

Winners of the North and South Open

18 holes
1902 — Alex Ross, 75

36 holes
1903 — Donald Ross, 147
1904 — Alex Ross, 152 (def. Jack Hobens in playoff)
1905 — Donald Ross, 146
1906 — Donald Ross, 146
1907 — Alex Ross, 152
1908 — Alex Ross, 143
1909 — Fred McLeod, 148
1910 — Alex Ross, 141
1911 — Gil Nicholls, 141
1912 — Tom McNamara, 144
1913 — Tom McNamara, 146
1914 — Gil Nicholls, 145
1915 — Alex Ross, 146
1916 — Jim Barnes, 144
1917 — Mike Brady, 141

72 holes
1918 — Walter Hagen, 293
1919 — Jim Barnes, 298
1920 — Fred McLeod, 293
1921 — Jock Hutchison, 291
1922 — Pat O'Hara, 220 (shortened to 54 holes due to rain)
1923 — Walter Hagen, 289
1924 — Walter Hagen, 283
1925 — Macdonald Smith, 281
1926 — Bobby Cruickshank, 293
1927 — Bobby Cruickshank, 285
1928 — Billy Burke, 291
1929 — Horton Smith, 287
1930 — Paul Runyan, 291
1931 — Wiffy Cox, 288 (def. Joe Turnesa in 9-hole playoff, 36-37)
1932 — Johnny Golden, 286 (def. Craig Wood in 18-hole playoff, 74-78)
1933 — Joe Kirkwood Sr., 277
1934 — Henry Picard, 283
1935 — Paul Runyan, 276
1936 — Henry Picard, 288 (def. Ray Mangrum in playoff, 72-74)
1937 — Horton Smith, 286
1938 — Vic Ghezzi, 279
1939 — Byron Nelson, 280
1940 — Ben Hogan, 277
1941 — Sam Snead, 277
1942 — Ben Hogan, 271
1943 — Bobby Cruickshank, 292
1944 — Bob Hamilton, 286
1945 — a-Cary Middlecoff, 280
1946 — Ben Hogan, 282
1947 — Jim Turnesa, 284
1948 — Toney Penna, 285
1949 — Sam Snead, 274
1950 — Sam Snead, 275
1951 — Tommy Bolt, 283

Also known as: No other tournament names used; it was always the North and South Open

Golf Courses: The North and South Open was staged by, and played at, Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.