Looking Back: Pasadena Open on PGA Tour
First played: 1929
Last played: 1938
The tournament debuted in January 1929, then was played again in December of that same year. It took place in December thereafter, except for its final year, 1938, when it returned to a January slot on the schedule.
Golf course: Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena, California
Winners of the PGA Tour Pasadena Open
1929 (Jan.) — Craig Wood, 1381929 (Dec.) — Horton Smith, 280
1930 — Tony Manero, 287
1931 — Harry Cooper, 281
1932 — Craig Wood, 278
1933 — Paul Runyan, 280 (def. Olin Dutra, Ky Laffoon in playoff)
1934 — Jug McSpaden, 281
1935 — Horton Smith, 279
1936 — Not played
1937 — Not played
1938 — Henry Picard, 276
The first winner was Craig Wood. But because it was only scheduled for 36 holes, the January 1929 tournament is not, today, counted as an official PGA Tour tournament by the tour, and Wood's win is not counted among his 21 official PGA Tour victories. (His 1932 victory is counted today as official.)
Equipment history was made in this tournament. In 1931 the USGA changed its specs for golf ball weight from 1.55 ounces to 1.62 ounces, a miniscule change but one that many pros advocated to help the golf ball react less to winds. The 1931 Pasadena Open is where the heavier ball first went into play in the U.S., although pros had the option in that tournament to continue using the lighter ball if they preferred. Some switched, some didn't. Harry Cooper, winner of the 1931 Pasadena Open, used the heavier ball, making him the first golfer to win a pro tournament in the U.S. with the new, heavier golf balls. Two golfers who stuck with the lighter ball, Wiffy Cox and Fred Morrison, finished second and third, but seven strokes behind.
Paul Runyan's playoff victory in 1933 was one of nine wins he had that year on tour. That established a new tour record for most wins in a single PGA Tour season, one Runyan held until Byron Nelson won 18 times in 1945. Among the golfers whose record Runyan broke was Horton Smith, whose 1929 Pasadena Open win was one of eight he had that year. Smith was the first to record eight wins in a single PGA Tour year.
The tournament's 72-hole scoring record of 276 was set by Henry Picard in 1938, the last year it was played. The largest margin of victory was Cooper's seven strokes in 1931. (Cooper also finished second in 1932 and 1935.)
Sources:
Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star. "Craig Wood Leads Field at Pasadena," Universal Press, January 17, 1929.
PGA Tour. Players, Craig Wood, Career, https://www.pgatour.com/player/06450/craig-wood.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Pasadena Goes to Smith," Universal Press Service, December 23, 1929, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9ItRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6WgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3234%2C1696006.
The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. "Heavier Pellet Proves Success in Golf Tourney," Associated Press, December 22, 1931, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VjBBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ercMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5899%2C5254538.
